Step 1
Wash and soak rice in enough drinking water for 30 minutes.
Step 2
In another bowl, wash and soak sago in enough drinking water for 15 minutes.
Step 3
Using a wooden smasher or grater, coarsely powder the jaggery and set aside.
Step 4
Combine milk and water in a cooking pan. Bring it to boil. When the milk starts to boil, reduce the flame and let it boil for 3-4 minutes.
Step 5
Drain water from rice and add to boiling milk.
Step 6
After cooking rice for 2-3 minutes, add soaked sago. Cook for another 3 minutes.
Step 7
When rice and sago are completely cooked add in powdered jaggery.
Step 8
Stir gently till jaggery melts.
Step 9
Let this cook for 5-6 minutes and add sugar. Adding sugar imparts nice color to the Pongal.
Step 10
Add coarsely ground cardamom powder. Cook on low flame by stirring continuously for 5-6 minutes.