Rasam

My mother-in-law makes different kinds of rasams. The following is a recipe for dal rasam with tomatoes. You can make rasam with only tamarind, only tomatoes or using both. In the same recipe if you skip tuvar dal, it becomes tomato saaru.

1/4 cup tuvar dal
2 ripe tomatoes
2 tsp rasam powder
2 green chillies
1 tsp jaggery, optional
4 sprigs cilantro/coriander leaves, optional
1/2 inch cube tamarind, optional

for seasoning
1 sprig curry leaves
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp jeera
1 clove garlic, optional

Cook tuvar dal in a pressure cooker. Transfer the ingredients to a sauce pan. Chop tomatoes; Slit green chillies and add to the dal. Add salt, Bring it to a boil. Stir in the rasam powder, tamarind pulp and jaggery. Keep boiling until the tomatoes and cooked. Add chopped cilantro.

Heat oil in a kadai, splutter mustard seeds and jeera. Add finely chopped garlic fry till its golden brown, add curry leaves. Add the seasoning to the rasam.

Use any leftovers to make Vegetable Soup