The bond between a mother and child begins in the womb and continues with food and affection in the physical world. Every mother knows her child's favorites, whether it is food, fashion, or anything else. For actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Vijay, 51, his mother always understood his sweet tooth, even when he was miles away for film shoots.
Vijay is known for his disciplined diet and routine. According to his trainer Naresh Kumar, who worked with Vijay on films such as Master (2021), the actor follows a highly disciplined lifestyle. However, there is one sweet dish he has never said no to, and his mother made sure to send him that dish while he was shooting in Chennai.
What Is the One Dish He Cannot Resist?
According to media reports, Vijay has a sweet tooth for traditional desserts. In one appearance on a cooking show, his mother, Shoba Chandrasekhar, shared that he particularly enjoys sakkarai pongal, a sweet South Indian dish. She revealed that she would often prepare it and send it to him when he was shooting in Chennai. This gesture highlights the sweet and priceless bond between mother and son.
What Is Sakkarai Pongal?
Sakkarai pongal is a traditional South Indian sweet dish made with rice, moong dal, jaggery, ghee, and cardamom. According to food historians, the dish holds special significance during the harvest festival Thai Pongal in Tamil Nadu. It is a rich and mildly spiced dish, often garnished with cashews and raisins fried in ghee. Below is the recipe for this delicious dessert.
How to Make Sakkarai Pongal
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup raw rice
- 1/4 cup moong dal
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups jaggery
- 3 cups water
- 1/4 cup milk
- 4–5 tbsp ghee
- 8–10 cashews
- 1 tbsp raisins
- 1/2 tsp cardamom powder
- A pinch of edible camphor
Method:
- First, dry roast the moong dal until aromatic.
- Once done, wash it along with rice and then pressure cook with water and milk for 4–5 whistles.
- In another pan, heat jaggery along with some water until melted.
- Add this jaggery syrup to the dal and rice mixture and cook on low flame for 5–7 minutes.
- Add cardamom powder and a tablespoon of ghee.
- Add roasted cashews and raisins to it and serve hot or cold.
