Paruppu rasam

Preparation time : 15 mins
Cook time : 25 mins

Rasam is a simple and easy side dish. A traditional south-indian meal is never complete without rasam. Rasam has good digestive values. Having rasam at the end of heavy non-veg  meal will make you feel better. There are many varieties of Rasam , but I find "Paruppu Rasam" is the most tastier one. I hope you too enjoy it as much as I do  :-)

Ingredients needed :

Tamarind - small goose-berry sized
Toor dal - 1/4 cup
Tomatoes - 2 medium sized
Garlic cloves crushed - 3
Red chilli - 1
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Salt needed

For grinding :

Cumin seeds/ jeera - 1 tsp
Black pepper - 1 tsp
Red chilli - 2
Garlic cloves - 3
Curry leaves - one spring

For garnishing :

Coriander leaves

For seasoning :

Oil
Mustard seeds
curry leaves

Method :

1. Pressure cook toor dal with a pinch of turmeric powder for 3- 4 whistle. Mash it well and keep it aside.
2. Soak tamarind in hot water. Extract tamarind juice and discard the pulp.
3. Add roughly chopped tomatoes into the tamarind juice and keep it aside till tomatoes soak completely.
4. Mean while heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds once it sputters, add curry leaves, red chilli into pieces, crushed garlic cloves, asafoetida .
5. Then add the grinded paste listed under grinding. Saute for few mins.
6. Pour the tamarind-tomato juice and add turmeric powder, salt needed.
7. Add the mashed toor dal with needed water. Bring it to boil in low flame .
8. Switch off when froth forming on the surface. Do not boil rasam as it lost its flavor and taste.
9. Garnish with coriander leaves.  

Serve hot with rice, rasam and potato curry . Best combo !!

Tips :

• Soak toor dal for 20 minutes, so that it can cook well.
• If you are preparing sambar, you can also take some amount of cooked dal. It will save some time.
• Mashing tomatoes along with extracted tamarind juice gives nice flavor to rasam.
• Garlic flakes and coriander leaves enhances the taste of rasam.
• Rasam should not be boiled too much , as it lost its flavor. Cook in low flame.

Serving size : 3 - 4