Tomato Rasam

Very healthy and vitamins and iron rich dish. Can have it as a curry with rice, can have it as a health drink/soup. A must dish with all Kerala sadya. A pretty good medicine for cough and cold!

Ingredients:

1. Toor dal- I tablespoon
2. Tomato- 1 medium,diced
3. Garlic- 4 pods, crushed
4. Turmeric powder- 1/4 teaspoon
5. Red Chilly powder-1 teaspoon
6. Pepper powder- 1 teaspoon, or more
7. Salt- 1 1/2 teaspoon, or more
8. Coriander leaves- 6-10
9. Water- 2 cups
10. Thick Tamarind paste- 1 teaspoon or more,as required
11. Ghee-1/2 teaspoon
12. Mustard seeds-1/2 teaspoon
13. Dried red chilly- 2
14. Asafoetida powder- A pinch

To Grind:

1. Pepper whole- 6
2. Dried red chilly- 3
3. Coriander seeds-5-6

Method:

1. Grind the grinding ingredients to a fine powder.
2. Pressure cook the toor dal, mash well and keep aside.
3. Meanwhile boil water in a vessel , add the ground powder,red chilly powder,turmeric powder,pepper powder to it.
4. When the water boils, add the crushed garlic, tomatoes, cover and cook.
5. When the tomatoes blend well with water, add tamarind paste, mashed toor dal, salt, sprinkle coriander leaves, cover and cook for 10-15 mins on low flame.
6. Heat the ghee in another pan, splutter mustard seeds, dried red chillies and season the rasam along with asafoetida powder.

Serve hot! More pepper can be added when having it during cough or cold. Its an excellent medicine.Tamarind taste can also be altered on requirements. Enjoy Rasam!!!