Pongal Gotsu Recipe / Side Dish for Pongal with step by step pics and a short Youtube video. If you like my video, please share it and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to my channel. This is a mildly spiced, subtle, yet a flavourful side dish with Ven Pongal, Rava Pongal, Millet Pongal, Milk Pongal why not tastes soo good with Sweet Pongal and Kovil Sakkarai Pongal too. Most of the time I feel bored with Pongal and Sambar combo, if you feel like me then definitely try this one, you will again make it. I have prepared it with potato, carrot and brinjal but traditionally brinjal and turnip are used but if you don’t have any veggies in hand, you can use 3 to 4 tomatoes and turn it into Tomato Gotsu. This Gotsu is very famous in the Thanjavur region in Tamilnadu and I have already shared Brinjal Gotsu which is completely prepared with a different set of ingredients and method, do check it.
Check my other Pongal Recipes like

Kalyana Gotsu Recipe

Pongal Gotsu Recipe | Side Dish for Pongal
Equipment
- Stovetop
Ingredients
1 Cup = 250 ML, 1 tsp = 5 ML
- 1 Onion / பெரிய வெங்காயம்
- 4 to 5 Green Chilli / பச்சைமிளகாய்
- 1 Tomato / தக்காளி
- 2 Brinjal / கத்திரிக்காய்
- 1 Carrot / கேரட்
- 1 Potato / உருளைக்கிழங்கு
- ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder / மஞ்சள்தூள்
- Salt / உப்பு As Required
- 1 Cup Water / தண்ணீர்
- ¼ Cup Moong Dal / பாசிப்பருப்பு
To Temper
- 3 to 4 tsp Oil / எண்ணெய்
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds / கடுகு
- ½ tsp Urad Dal / உளுத்தம்பருப்பு
- ½ tsp Cumin Seeds / Jeera / சீரகம்
- 1 Sprig Curry Leaves / கருவேப்பில்லை
- 1 Generous Pinch Hing / பெருங்காயம்
Instructions
- The ingredients in the first pic are for 'To Temper'. Then, chop the onion, tomato, carrot, potato and brinjal finely. Slit the green chilli, also keep the potato and brinjal immersed in water till use to avoid decolouration.
- Pressure cook 1/4 cup of moong dal with 1 cup of water. Heat oil in a pan and temper with the ingredients listed in the table 'To Temper'.
- Add the onion, green chilli and saute till translucent. Then add the tomato and saute till mushy.
- Now add the chopped carrot, potato and brinjal.
- Saute for 2 minutes in low flame till the raw smell of the veggies leaves. Pour 1 cup of water, then add turmeric powder and required salt. Cook in low flame for 5 minutes till the veggies turn soft but not mushy.
- Add the moong dal and give a boil till it turns thick.Serve this Pongal Gotsu Recipe hot with Godhuma Rava Pongal.
Video
Notes
Tips for Side Dish for Pongal
- Traditionally, brinjal and turnip are used to prepare this Pongal Gotsu Recipe. But you can go ahead with brinjal alone or carrot and beans.
- For more flavour, do the seasoning with coconut oil or ghee.
- If preparing for festival, skip the onion for this Side Dish for Pongal.
- I used 1 tomato for a tangy taste, you can even skip and make it plain.
- Instead of tomato, 1 tsp of tamarind paste can be added, after the veggies get cooked.
- Adjust green chilli as per spice level required.
- For a tasty gotsu, 1 tbsp of idli batter or rice flour can be added at last, it also thickens the gravy soon.
- If using rice flour, mix it with little water separately and then add to the gotsu, else lumps will be formed. But ensure to give a nice boil till the raw smell of the rice flour leaves.

Side dish For Pongal
Method for Pongal Gotsu Recipe
1. The ingredients in the first pic are for ‘To Temper‘. Then, chop the onion, tomato, carrot, potato and brinjal finely. Slit the green chilli, also keep the potato and brinjal immersed in water till use to avoid decolouration.
2. Pressure cook 1/4 cup of moong dal with 1 cup of water. Heat oil in a pan and temper with the ingredients listed in the table ‘To Temper‘.
3. Add the onion, green chilli and saute till translucent. Then add the tomato and saute till mushy.
4. Now add the chopped carrot, potato and brinjal.
5. Saute for 2 minutes in low flame till the raw smell of the veggies leaves. Pour 1 cup of water, then add turmeric powder and required salt. Cook in low flame for 5 minutes till the veggies turn soft but not mushy.
6. Add the moong dal and give a boil till it turns thick.
Serve this Pongal Gotsu Recipe hot with Godhuma Rava Pongal.

Pongal Gotsu Recipe
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