Thinai Pongal or Foxtail millet pongal is a savoury, millet-based Gluten Free dish. Served for breakfast or a light dinner with Chutney, Sambhar or Avial.
What is Pongal ? What are the variants
Pongal is a South indian Breakfast dish made with a combination of lentils and rice -its trademark taste and consistency is gooey creaminess redolent with the mild spice and ghee (clarified butter) that’s used . It's also served as prasadam / neivedyam at temples especially during the Holy month of Margazhi at South Indian Temples. These days, due to health or eating preferences, rice is slowly being replaced in most homes with millets or other grains. So, we have Rava Pongal, Quinoa Pongal, Oats Pongal, Samai (little millet) Pongal and today's dish - Thinai (foxtail millet) pongal.
After Oats chakkarai pongal, it was another successful experiment for pongal this year with Thinai ven pongal or Thinai Khara Pongal. Millets are known to reduce the glycemic index as well provide a hearty meal. So pongal festival this year was about two healthy experiments that the family liked.
Foxtail millet is called Thinai in Tamil, NavaNe in Kannada, Korra in Telugu, KangNi in Hindi and Thina in Malayalam.
I made this first for Mattu Pongal (3rd day of Pongal) where cows and all farm are worshipped. The cattle are washed, horns painted and Jallikattu – a popular cattle race is seen in villages to this day.
It turned out to be gooey, ghee rich and super tasty - just the way a pongal ought to be 🙂 We love this as a regular replacement to the Traditional Ven Pongal made with Rice.
If you are new to millets or like us, use millets regularly, do checkout the following millet based recipes to get started:
Other Non-rice Pongal recipes you may like on the blog:
Cuisine : South Indian, Course - breakfast / light dinner ; spice level : medium
Serving suggestions : Avial, Coconut chutney, sambhar
Prep time - 15 mins , cook time - 15 mins , serves - 4
Ingredients to make Thinai Pongal:
- 1 cup Foxtail Millet Thinai / Navane (1 cup = 80 ml)
- ⅓ grams Split Green Gram Moong dal
- 2 TBSP Ghee (add 1 teaspoon more for richness)
- 2 teaspoon Oil (any neutral oil works)
- 5 cups of water
- 1 TBSP Salt (or to taste)
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- ¼ tsp asafoetida (skip for GF)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 1 green chilly (optional)
- 1 TBSP cashews (skip for nut allergy)
PIN FOR LATER
How to make Thinai Pongal
- Wash thinai and moong dal in several changes of water till water runs clear.
- Mix both and soak them in a bowl for 20 mins.
- After 20 mins, drain the water and Mix both
- In a pressure cooker, add half the oil and add this millet-lentil mix.
- Give it a gentle stir, add half the ginger and 1 slit green chilly.
- To this, add 5 cups water. Mix well. Cover and Pressure cook for 5-6 whistles on medium heat.
- Let the pressure cool on its own.
- Mix once done, add salt as required
- Heat remaining oil + ghee in a pan, roast cashew nuts , cumin seeds, asafoetida, ginger, pepper seeds, curry leaves.
- Pour this tempering on the cooked thinai-Dal mixture. Check for salt and spices.
- Finish with 1 teaspoon ghee for extra richness.
- Serve hot with coconut chutney or sambhar or Avial
Thinai Pongal Recipe | Thinai Ven Pongal | Foxtail Millet Pongal
Ingredients
- 1 cup Foxtail Millet Thinai / Navane. here 1 cup = 80 ml
- ⅓ cup Split Green Gram Moong dal
- 2 tablespoon Ghee add 1 teaspoon more for richness
- 2 teaspoon Oil any neutral oil works
- 5 cups of water
- 1 tablespoon Salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- ¼ teaspoon asafoetida skip for GF
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 green chilly optional
- 1 tablespoon cashews skip for nut allergy
vaishali sabnani says
A wonderful healthy experiment with pongal.
Srividhya says
A very healthy pongal
cookingwithsapana says
Very interesting pongal recipe. Would love to try it.
Padmajha says
Healthy recipe Kalyani. I too have started using millets and the dishes always turns out great !
Srivalli says
Very good one Kalyani, so healthy!
Sneha's Recipe says
A healthy pongal , never made foxtail millet pongal.
Nalini's Kitchen says
Such a healthy and delicious looking pongal...
Unknown says
Healthy pongal
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
Millet pongal, anytime of the day!!! Looks delicious, though they say thinai is mostly used for sweet dishes, it doesn't taste bad with savory ones!!!
Priya Suresh says
Wat a fabulous healthy twist, ultimate pongal.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Such a healthy pongal with the earthy whole grain!
Nisha says
Such a healthy dish. Looks so nice.
Pavani says
Healthy pongal using millets. Looks delicious.
Suma Gandlur says
Healthy version of pongal.
Unknown says
Healthy twist to rice pongal. Nice one! Jayanthi(www.sizzlingveggies.com)
Chef Mireille says
healthy and flavorful
Priya Vj says
Foxtail Millet pongal is what I would love to have in this Fengal effect. Lots of pepper,jeera and nei in challi challi climate ...
Kalyani says
Pongal in Fengal !! lol...
Mayuri Patel says
A delicious and healthy way to enjoy all sorts of millets. Like how easy it is to make savoury pongals and enjoy them for breakfast or even as light meal options.
Kalyani says
Absolutely, mayuri. we love them as light meal option too
Seema says
We love millet pongal recipes as it is so easy and healthy to have. i will surely make this more than one.
Kalyani says
Thanks Seema. We love them too
Priya Srinivasan says
Love pongal anyday, that too with millets, i can enjoy an extra serving too. I have tried thinai sweet pongal, must try this savory thinai pongal too! With pongal festival coming up, we need such recipes using millets for the festival, lovely share kalyani!
Kalyani says
Thanks Priya. Do try this, I am sure you would love it