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    Kalkandu Pongal | Kalkandu Sadam

    January 15, 2015 By Vidya Srinivasan 26 Comments

    40 shares
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Kalkandu Pongal | Kalkandu sadham | Kalkandu bath | Kalkandu sadam | sugar candy rice recipe with step by step pictures and video recipe. Check out the kalkandu sadam recipe and If you like the video pls SUBSCRIBE to my channel

    Kalkandu Pongal | Kalkandu sadham | Kalkandu bath | Kalkandu sadam is a quick and tasty Indian sweet prepared with rice, sugar candy and milk. Pongal with kalkandu is a creamy, delicious Indian dessert pudding often prepared for kannum Pongal/ mattu pongal/ ugadi and offered as naivedyam/prasad. Kalkandu Pongal tastes divine. Kalkandu Pongal can be easily prepared in pressure cooker and Instapot.

    Sugar candy pongal for Kanu

    I mostly prepare Kalkandu Pongal for mattu Pongal / kannum Pongal along with Puliyodarai, Coconut Rice, Bagala bath, and Aviyal. Usually, my Amma prepares Vella Sadam / kalkandu Pongal for Mattu Pongal,  Usually during Maatu Pongal Amma wakes us (myself and sis) early morning for keeping Kanu. In our patio we keep kanu. For Kanu in sugarcane leaf, we arrange pieces of sugarcane,  sakkarai Pongal, kumkum rice, turmeric rice, and curd rice alternatively in small portion, and say "Kakkapidi vachen kannupidi vachen kakkaikellam kalyanum". It was so fun doing this.  Nowadays as I couldn't find sugarcane around, my kannu missing sugarcane and our sister time

    Can I skip milk for Kalkandu Pongal?

    Milk along with saffron gives a nice flavor to the Pongal. When my son was little he use to call to kalkandu Pongal as thick Paal payasam. If you want to cut the milk use water for cooking rice and add little milk towards the end but Pongal prepared with milk tastes best. 

    Should I grind Sugar candy for Kalkandu Pongal?

    If you are using small sugar candy like me grinding is optional. It easily gets melted but if you are using rock candy, pulse it one and use it. Pankarkandu can also be used for making Pongal. If you don't get sugar candy use sugar for making milk Pongal. 

    Can I cook Kalkandu sadam in an Instant pot?

    Yes, you can make Instant pot kalkandu Pongal. Cook the Pongal in rice mode and follow the rest of the procedure.

     

    Pongal recipes | bhogi recipes | kannum Pongal recipes

    Paal kootu

    Pongal varieties

    Paal poli

    Milk kesari

    Paal payasam

    Kalkandu Pongal | Kalkandu Sadam

    Tasty kalkandu pongal
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Comment
    Course: Pongal
    Cuisine: Indian
    Author: Vidya Srinivasan

    Ingredients

    • Raw Rice or sona masoori rice - 1/2 cup
    • Milk - 2 cup
    • Water - 1 cup
    • Small Kalkandu / Sugar Candy - 1 cup Adjust according to your sweetness
    • Saffron - generous pinch
    • Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp
    • Ghee - 2 tbsp
    • Cashew but - 10
    • Raisin - 2 tbsp
    • Salt - a pinch

    Instructions

    • Wash rice well and soak in hot water for at least 30 minutes
    • Drain the water and transfer the rice into a pressure cooker
    • Furthermore, add  1 cup of milk and 1 cup of water and turn on the stove on medium flame
    • Mix well and cook till the milk turns warm, add saffron and continue cooking
    • Cook till the mixture turns froth, before closing the cooker mix well, make sure milk/rice does not stick to the cooker
    • Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles  and turn off the stove
    • Once when the pressure release naturally open the cooker and mash the rice well
    • Add 1 cup of sugar candy and 1 cup of  warm milk and mix well; close the lid and rest it for 20 minutes (Sugar candy will melt in the warm condition)
    • Open the cooker lid and mix well, cook on medium flame
    • Add cardamom powder, 1 tablespoon of ghee, and pinch of salt; mix well
    • Mix well now and then and cook for 3-4 minutes until Pongal comes together; turn off the stove
    • In a pan add 1 tablespoon of ghee and turn on the stove on medium heat
    • After the ghee turns hot add cashew and sate till they start changing color
    • Add raisins and cook till they turn golden brown
    • Transfer the roasted cashews and raisins into the Kalkandu Pongal and mix

    Video

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    Notes

    1. Instead of adding the whole kalkandu can also powder them and add it
    2. I prefer my Pongal in smooth mushy texture, mush Pongal according to the texture you desire
    3. 1 tablespoon of Moong dal can be added and cooked with rice
    4. Edible camphor, nutmeg, and clove can be added for flavor
    5. You can also add half sugar and half sugar candy
    6. Milk gives a creamy texture to the Pongal. Instead of milk water can be used
    7. Instead of rice, oats/cracked wheat/quinoa can also be used
    8. Instead of pressure cooker, vengala pannai (traditional method) can also be used
    Tried this recipe?Mention @traditionallymodernfood or tag #traditionallymodernfood!

    Kalkandu Pongal

    Preparation Time: 10 mins | Cooking Time: 30 mins | Serves : 3

    Ingredients:

    Raw Rice or sona masoori rice - 1/2 cup

    Milk - 2 cup

    Water - 1 cup

    Small Kalkandu / Sugar Candy - 1 cup (Adjust according to your sweetness)

    Saffron - generous pinch

    Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp

    Ghee - 2 tbsp

    Cashew but - 10

    Raisin - 2 tbsp

    Salt - a pinch

    Method:

    • Wash rice well and soak in hot water for at least 30 minutes

    • Drain the water and transfer the rice into a pressure cooker

    • Furthermore, add  1 cup of milk and 1 cup of water and turn on the stove on medium flame

    • Mix well and cook till the milk turns warm, add saffron and continue cooking 

    • Cook till the mixture turns froth, before closing the cooker mix well, make sure milk/rice does not stick to the cooker
    • Pressure cook for 4-5 whistles  and turn off the stove


    • Once when the pressure release naturally open the cooker and mash the rice well

    • Add 1 cup of sugar candy and 1 cup of  warm milk and mix well; close the lid and rest it for 20 minutes (Sugar candy will melt in the warm condition)

    • Open the cooker lid and mix well, cook on medium flame

     

    • Add cardamom powder, 1 tablespoon of ghee, and pinch of salt; mix well

     

    • Mix well now and then and cook for 3-4 minutes until Pongal comes together; turn off the stove

    • In a pan add 1 tablespoon of ghee and turn on the stove on medium heat

    • After the ghee turns hot add cashew and sate till they start changing color

    • Add raisins and cook till they turn golden brown

    • Transfer the roasted cashews and raisins into the Kalkandu Pongal and mix 

    « Sweet Pongal | Sakkarai Pongal
    Puli milagai thokku | green chilli thokku »

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Charanya

      January 16, 2015 at 1:09 am

      Never heard of it before <3 Sounds yum Vidz : )

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 16, 2015 at 2:36 pm

        Thanks dear:-) get some sugar candy and try it, I am sure you will like it

        Reply
    2. Chitra Jagadish

      January 16, 2015 at 3:56 am

      Never tried pongal using sugar candy. ..sounds and looks yummmm. ...

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 16, 2015 at 2:34 pm

        Thanku C:-) do try it dear

        Reply
    3. srividhya

      January 16, 2015 at 7:23 am

      I get karumbu here but this time didn't do elaborately. Nice kalkandu saadam.

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 16, 2015 at 2:34 pm

        Thanku Sri:-) thats great i m longing to taste karumbu its been 3 years since i tasted

        Reply
    4. Loretta

      January 16, 2015 at 8:21 am

      It's interesting to learn all the various customs and foods from India, your pongal looks delicious. 🙂

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 16, 2015 at 2:33 pm

        Thanku Loretta:-) glad you liked it

        Reply
    5. Malar

      January 16, 2015 at 11:15 am

      Lovely Vidya, never knew this story for kannu pongal 🙂 we just make ven pongal on maatu pongal and try to find a komadha and serve..that is all...this is very interesting and kalkandu pongal looks super awesome 🙂

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 16, 2015 at 2:33 pm

        Thanku Malar:-)

        Reply
    6. coconutcraze

      January 16, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Don't tempt me with this pongal! I am seriously trying to lose a few pounds this year! Looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 16, 2015 at 2:42 pm

        Haha:-) Thanks dear

        Reply
    7. apuginthekitchen

      January 17, 2015 at 6:41 pm

      This is yummy, are you talking about rock candy when you say sugar candy? Love this!!

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 19, 2015 at 3:23 pm

        We get rock candy in small square crystals Suzanne and in India we address them as "Sugar Candy". In US we get many form of candy and now after seeing your comment now I realize I should have specified:-) thanks for asking Suzanne

        Reply
    8. Sadhna Grover

      January 17, 2015 at 11:47 pm

      Wow, this is new recipe for me, Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 19, 2015 at 3:12 pm

        Glad you liked it Sadhna:-) thanku

        Reply
    9. Amanda

      January 18, 2015 at 12:39 am

      This is seriously all my favorite things in one bowl. Yum!

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 19, 2015 at 3:08 pm

        Thanku Amanda:-) glad you liked it

        Reply
    10. Shobha Rawal

      January 18, 2015 at 4:33 am

      love this sweet version of pongal ...........surely try it.

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 19, 2015 at 3:08 pm

        Thanku Shobha:-)

        Reply
    11. JayanthiSindhiya

      January 19, 2015 at 4:32 am

      Lovely pongal

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 19, 2015 at 3:07 pm

        Thanku Jayanthi:-)

        Reply
    12. sathyapriya

      January 19, 2015 at 5:37 pm

      I knew the story of kannu because of my college friend ..we really miss it here 🙁 I am a fan of this pongal..We usually do with large kalkand ..

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 21, 2015 at 9:49 pm

        Cool:-) ya we miss the festive fun here..

        Reply
    13. sindhoooo

      January 21, 2015 at 4:44 am

      Ha haa 😀 Definitely we enjoy reading consecutive delicious Pongal recipes too 😀 In fact, I am drooling! Even I didn't know about sugar candy pongal. Thank you Vidya 🙂
      TC! Keep smiling 🙂

      Reply
      • Traditionally Modern Food

        January 21, 2015 at 9:45 pm

        Thanku Sindhu:-)

        Reply
    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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