Celebrating Pongal Festival!

(Pongal, Avial and Ellu Bella)

Pongal, the South Indian harvest festival, occurs in mid-January at the beginning of the Tamil month of “Thai’ and heralds the birth of all good things to come in the year ahead. While it is not the South Indian New Year, Pongal is more like a Thanksgiving—especially an expression of gratitude to the Sun. Rice, dhal (lentils), sugar, and milk, the staples of a South Indian household, are celebrated in the most meaningful and delicious way during this festival.

This meal kit includes three of my favorite dishes: Pongal, Avial, and Ellu Bella. Pongal is made with rice and split yellow moong dhal, enriched with plenty of ghee and flavored with fresh ginger, cumin, curry leaves and black pepper. It is a nourishing and comforting dish—the only dish I enjoy with generous amounts of ghee (though butter or oil can easily be substituted).

Avial is a refreshing, colorful vegetable dish cooked in a coconut and yogurt sauce, spiced with cumin and green chilies. Ellu Bella is a nutritious snack I learned from my mother-in-law. This traditional Karnataka dish is made especially for Pongal and shared with family and friends as a harvest offering. I include it here as a tribute to her.

What you’ll need from your kitchen to cook:

Ingredients: Ghee or butter/vegetable oil (coconut oil for Avial is optional) and salt.
Equipment: A 2 qt. and a 3 qt. saucepan with lid, 1 small saucepan/frying pan with lid, cooking spoons/ladle/spatulas, serving platter, blender, colander, 3 small prep bowls, 3 serving spoons, cutting board/knifes, measuring cups/spoons, serving spoon.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS INCLUDED IN YOUR BAG!

Pick up Locations and Times:
You will be asked to pick your preferred location at check out.  

PLEASE NOTE: Once again East End Coop is NOT a pickup location. Please check Coop Alternate pickup location below. It is only a few minutes away from the East End Coop. We added a new pickup location at Maggie & Stella’s Cards & Gifts Shop at the University of Pittsburgh!

Please note the time change for many locations!

We will send you an email on March 1st (day before pickup) with a reminder & confirmation of your time/place for pick up on March 2nd!

• Oasis Community Kitchen (pickup between 3-4 pm) - 717 N Homewood Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208.

• Oakland - Maggie & Stella’s Cards & Gifts, (pickup between 3:30-4:30 pm) 3925 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. All New Pickup Location.

• Point Breeze (pickup between 5:00-6:00 pm) 7113 Reynolds Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 (located at the corner of Reynolds Street & Le Roi Road; come inside during cold weather or pick up at the tented patio during warmer days). Please note time change for this location.

• Kholis Indian Imports (pickup between 6:30-7:00 pm) - 319 S Craig St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Please note time change for this location.

• Chatham University Eden Hall Campus (pickup between 4:30-5:30 pm), 6035 Ridge Road, Gibsonia, PA, 15044. Please note time change for this location.

• South Hills - Please select South Hills from the dropdown menu and we will contact you to regarding the pickup location in the South Hills.

• Le Roi Road (between 4-6 pm).

Home Delivery:
We offer home delivery! If you choose this option, we will send a confirmation email of your estimated delivery time. Please only sign up for Home Delivery if your address is within the following neighborhoods: Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Regent Square, Wilkinsburg, East Liberty, Larimer, Homewood, Highland Park & Morningside. If you are outside this zone, we may need to shift you to a pickup location. Home Delivery for this kit is offered at an additional price of $5.

Dietary and Allergy Info:
This meal kit is gluten free and contains yogurt. But you can order non-dairy yogurt for an additional price.  As always, you will be asked about any dietary restrictions or allergies at checkout.