South Indian Toor Dal &
Tomato Soup -2 (Rasam)
By Ananda Lila devi dasi
Ingredients
Soup:
• 1 walnut sized ball of seeded tamarind pulp soaked in 1 C of
hot water
• 2 C water
• 1 tomato chopped
• 1 green chili
• ½ Tsp yellow asafetida powder
• ¼ Tsp red chili powder
• 2 Tsp coriander powder
• 1 Tsp cumin powder
• 1½ Tsp salt
• 1 Tsp brown sugar/jaggery
• 1 C cooked toor dal water (cook 3 Tbsp toor dal in 1½ C
water)
• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves
Tempering:
• 1 Tbsp ghee
• 1 dry red chili
• 1 Tsp mustard seeds
• ¼ Tsp fenugreek seeds
• ½ Tsp urad dal
• ½ Tsp yellow asafetida powder
• 1 sprig fresh curry leaves
• 1 Tsp freshly grounded dry roasted cumin powder
• ¼ Tsp coarsely grounded black pepper powder
Preparation
1. Strain the tamarind, collect the juice and discard the
tamarind pulp.
2. Combine the tamarind juice, water, tomatoes, green chili,
asafetida, chili
powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, salt, sugar, toor dal
water and
coriander leaves. Simmer and cook uncovered for 30 minutes.
Remove from
heat.
3. For the tempering; heat ghee in a small sautepan over
moderate heat. Add
red chili, mustard seeds. When the seeds crackle, add
fenugreek seeds,
urad dal, asafetida, curry leaves, cumin powder and pepper
powder. Swirl
the pan for a few seconds and add to the Rasam. Serve hot with
rice.
Serves
4