Culinary Experiments : Tomato Rasam

TOMATO RASAM

Rasam means "juice" and in the southern India it is a spicy tangy soupy dish having comparatively thinner consistency - it can be made from tomatoes or tamarind or pulses along with other spices.

Favourite-ly accompanied in most of the South Indian meals as it aids in digestion due to the varied spices that are added.

INGREDIENTS:

• Handful of coriander leaves
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• An inch of ginger
• Few chilies
• 10 garlic cloves
• 7-8 black pepper corns
• 3-4 mid sized tomatoes
• Red chilli powder
• Turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• Asafoetida
• Urad dal
• Jaggery
• Tamarind pulp
• Finely chopped garlic
• Curry leaves
• Sukhi lal mirch
• Rasam powder (optional)
• Salt

RECIPE WITH STEP BY STEP PICTURES:

Pressure cook : 3-4 tomatoes, add a pinch of turmeric powder, 1 tsp of red chilli powder, 1 tsp rasam powder(optional), 1 tsp salt, water. 

Once pressure cooked, cool the mixture, and puree it. Set aside.

In a mixer grinder, add a handful of coriander leaves, an inch of ginger, 2 tsp cumin seeds, roughly 2-3 slit chilies, about 6 garlic cloves, about 6 black pepper corns. 

Grind it coarsely.

In another pan, add 2 teaspoon of oil. Once the oil is hot enough, add

• 2 teaspoon mustard seeds

• few urad dal dana

• 1/2 teaspoon of asafoetida

Allow the mustard seeds to crackle - you could add another teaspoon of mustard seeds if needed.

Next add some finely chopped garlic. Fry it for few seconds.

Add a few curry leaves, 1-2 sukhi lal mirch and 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Sautee.

Now it is time to add the coarsely ground mixture, about 2-3 tablespoon of it. Give it a quick toss - spicy aroma would fill in.

Add the tomato puree to the masalas. Add 1/2 teaspoon jaggery powder, 4-5 tablespoons of diluted tamarind pulp or as required.

Add water and salt as per taste.

Let it simmer for 7-8 minutes. Add 1-1.5 tablespoon of rasam powder - you can skip it if you want, but it enhances the taste quite a lot.

Serve it piping hot with ghee laden rice.

Recipe courtesy for the coriander spice mix - vegrecipesofindia 

~Bon Appetite !!

P.S All pictures have been photographed by moi. 😊