Where to Purchase Pongal Groceries & Ingredients Online in the UK

While you are celebrating Pongal in the UK, the first thing you think of, besides cooking, is shopping. It is not an easy task to fetch the ingredients of Pongal, such as sugarcane, mango leaves, jaggery, and other necessary South Indian ingredients like moong dal, from the nearest supermarket in the UK.

It is for this reason that many Tamil families in the UK plan to purchase Pongal ingredients well in advance. Online grocery stores, where families can order Pongal ingredients and have them home-delivered, have become a convenient substitute for travelling long distances or visiting multiple shops for various Pongal essentials.

Pongal Dishes That You Prepare at Home

The festival of Pongal is all about making two recipes, one sweet and the other savoury. Both have immense significance in this harvest festival. Before even starting to prepare, most people look up ways to make Sakkarai Pongal, ways to make Ven Pongal, and the ingredients required for each.

Sakkarai Pongal (Sweet)

Steps to Make Sakkarai Pongal Sakkarai Pongal is most intimately linked with the festival. To make it, rice and split moong dal are cooked together until soft. Jaggery syrup is prepared, filtered, and then mixed with the cooked rice and dal. Lots of ghee are added along with cardamom powder, and finally, cashew nuts and raisins fried in ghee are stirred in. The texture should be soft and flowing, but not too dry. Sakkarai Pongal is considered both food and a ritual performed during Pongal.

Ingredients for Sakkarai Pongal:

  • Raw rice (Pacharisi) or Sona Masoori

  • Split moong dal

  • Jaggery

  • Ghee

  • Cardamom

  • Cashew nuts and raisins

Every ingredient is important, and the use of good jaggery and ghee is essential for authentic taste.

Where & How to Purchase These Ingredients in the UK, For people in the UK, these ingredients can be sourced easily through Indian grocery online stores. Items such as rice, jaggery, moong dal, and ghee are widely available during Pongal. Lakshmi Stores UK is a trusted option for ordering these essentials.

Ven Pongal (Savory)

Preparation of Ven Pongal Ven Pongal is simple but requires the right balance of flavors. Cook raw rice and yellow moong dal together until soft. In another pan, heat ghee and temper black pepper, cumin seeds, ginger, curry leaves, and cashew nuts. Add this mixture to the cooked rice and dal. Ven Pongal is soft, comforting, and best enjoyed hot, often served with coconut chutney or sambar.

Ingredients for Ven Pongal:

  • Raw rice or Sona Masoori rice

  • Split moong dal

  • Ghee

  • Black pepper

  • Cumin seeds

  • Ginger

  • Curry leaves

  • Cashew nuts

The quality of the rice and ghee significantly affects the final dish. Buying Ingredients for Ven Pongal Online. Most Ven Pongal ingredients are readily available through Indian grocery online stores or Asian supermarket online platforms in the UK. Clear product descriptions help customers choose items suitable for South Indian cooking.

Other Pongal Essentials You Will Require

Pongal is more than just cooking. Certain items are needed for rituals and decorations and are not usually available in regular supermarkets.

Pongal Rice Online: What to Check For Both Sakkarai Pongal and Ven Pongal require rice. Raw rice or Sona Masoori rice is preferred. When ordering online, check the type, quality, level of polishing, and packaging. A reliable Indian grocery online store will specify if the rice is suitable for South Indian dishes.

Jaggery: 

Jaggery is essential for sweet Pongal. In the UK, it is usually imported from India and comes in block or powdered form. When buying Jaggery online, check ingredients and storage guidelines.

Ghee for Pongal

Ghee is used generously in both sweet and savory Pongal. Asian grocery online platforms in the UK provide authentic ghee, mostly imported from India. Consider the origin, composition, shelf life, and storage instructions before purchasing.

Sugarcane

Sugarcane symbolizes harvest and prosperity. As a fresh product, it is hard to find in the UK. Some Indian online stores offer sugarcane during Pongal, and ordering early is recommended to ensure freshness.

Turmeric Roots & Mango Leaves

Raw turmeric roots and mango leaves are essential for rituals. Turmeric roots are tied to the cooking pot, and mango leaves are used for decoration. These items are rarely found in local markets, making online stores the ideal option.

Conclusion

Celebrating Pongal in the UK may require sourcing specific ingredients for cooking and rituals. With the rise of Indian grocery online stores and Asian supermarket online platforms, it has become easier to buy rice, jaggery, ghee, sugarcane, turmeric roots, and mango leaves. Lakshmi Stores UK, for example, provides Pongal-specific groceries during the festival, making it simple for Indian families in the UK to celebrate Pongal while preserving traditional flavors and practices.

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