South Indian Dinner :Rasam

Rasam is a South Indian soup,it classical  prepared using  tamarind juice as a base, with added ingredients such as chilli , pepper , cumin and used as seasoning . 

preparation 

ingredients

 For the rasam:

• 9-10 medium size red and juicy tomatoes
• 1 or 2 cups water
• salt

For the spice herb mixture:

• ½ cup coriander stems with or without leaves
• 1 inch ginger
• 8-9 garlic
• 10-12 black pepper
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds

For the tempering:

• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 to 3 sprig of curry leaves
• a pinch of asafoetida
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp white lentils
• 1 or 2 red chillies, broken
• ½ tsp turmeric powder

method

1. blanch or steam the tomatoes.
2. once they cool, chop them and blend to a smooth puree.
3. in a mixer and pestle make a coarse paste of all the ingredients mentioned in the spice herb mixture list above.
4. heat oil and fry the mustard seeds. when they start to crackle add the white lentil.
5. fry the white lentil till light brown and then add all the other tempering ingredients, except turmeric powder.
6. fry for a minute.
7. add the coarse herb and spice paste. add turmeric powder and fry for a minute.
8. now add the tomato puree.
9. add the water and salt.
10. bring to a thorough boil and then simmer for 10-12 minutes.
11. garnish tomato rasam with coriander leaves.

serve 

tomato rasam hot with rice.

by Nayana.kalaimalai