Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Thakkaali Rasam/Kerala Style Tomato Rasam: Beginner Series

The aroma of this rasam is so tantalizing that even a person who is not hungry would not mind eating or sipping this rasam. It is a great drink as is too!

The advantages of this rasam are:
  • no lentils, hence no pressure cooking the lentils before hand, 
  • simple ingredients that are available in the kitchen pantry , 
  • no grinding & no standing  near the stove sweating all the time :)
I learnt this recipe during my Singapore days from a Malayali friend. This post was in draft for almost 2 years!! Was never happy with the pictures clicked previously & did not publish it.


Preparation Time: 5-7 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins

Ingredients: (Serves 4, makes around a liter of rasam!)
For the rasam:

  • Tomato: 2 nos
  • Shallots/Sambar onion: 1 no or 1 tbsp finely chopped sweet onion
  • Green chilli: 2 nos
  • Curry leaves: 4-6 nos
  • Water: 4.5 cups
  • Tamarind paste: 1 tsp (thick tamarind extract)
  • Turmeric powder: a pinch
  • Chilli powder: 1/2 tsp
  • Dhania powder/Coriander powder: 1/2 tsp
  • Crushed pepper: 1/2 tsp (actual recipe calls for 2 tsp, adjust according to your family needs)
  • Crushed garlic: 1 tsp
  • Coconut oil: 1 tsp
  • Mustard seeds: 1/2 tsp
  • Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
  • Salt: According to taste


For tempering:

  • Coconut oil or Ghee/Clarified butter: 1.5 tsp (use any oil of your choice)
  • Cumin seeds: 1/2 tsp
  • Curry leaves: 4-5 nos
  • Sliced garlic: 2 tsp
  • Dry red chilli: 1 no




Method:
Dice the tomatoes & finely chop the shallots/sambar onion.
Heat oil in a sauce pan. When oil is hot, throw in mustard seeds & cumin seeds.When seeds turn golden brown, add the finely chopped onion & curry leaves.Saute till the onions are translucent.

Add the tomatoes & chopped green chillies. Saute.

Then pour in the water, tamarind paste, crushed garlic, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, dhania powder, crushed pepper, salt & curry leaves.

Reduce the heat to medium & let it boil. Stir in once a while. The flavors will be infused in the water & the aroma will fill your kitchen. Let it boil for 15-20 mins on a medium-low heat. Turn off the heat.
Prepare the tempering.
Heat oil in a small pan. When oil is hot, add the cumin seeds. When seeds turn golden brown, add the garlic & allow the garlic to turn golden brown. Finally throw in the curry leaves & broken dry chilli.

Pour the tempering over the boiling rasam & cover the rasam with a lid.
Serve the hot rasam with rice or as a drink!

8 comments:

  1. I love tomato rasam..in general even I don't add dal to tomato rasam,mine is almost simialr but with out onion and few other changes..nothing can beat my comfort meal other than rice n rasam

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow delicious and tempting rasam.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Woww.. super tempting rasam.. looks absolutely perfect.. thanks for sharing dear :)
    Indian Cuisine

    ReplyDelete
  4. That platter looks yum ..I wish I can have this right now

    ReplyDelete
  5. hi first time here, you are having such a lovely space... happy to follow you... when u get free time plz visit mine too...
    i too love tomato rasam very much...
    VIRUNTHU UNNA VAANGA

    ReplyDelete
  6. Delicious looking rasam!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Super comforting food, irresistible rasam.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Slurp! love Rasams of all kind...yummy

    ReplyDelete

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