It is a sweet and buttery dish made with with freshly harvested new rice, jaggery and ghee (clarified butter), with the addition of dried coconut, sesame seeds, raisins, milk, and cashew nuts. Sakkarai pongal is traditionally prepared as an offering to the Sun God during Makar Sankranti, a three-day harvest festival in mid-January, celebrated in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, Taste Atlas websie states. It is traditionally served alongside savory donuts called vadas and coconut chutney.
Dining and Cooking