Quick Tomato Rasam Recipe (South Indian Style Tomato Charu)

Ingredients

• 1/2 tbsp chana dal (split Bengal gram)
• 1 tsp coriander (dhania) seeds
• 1 whole dry Kashmiri red chilli, broken into pieces
• 1 pandi chillies, broken into pieces
• 1/2 tsp black peppercorns (kalimirch)
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
• 1 1/2 cups roughly chopped tomato
• 2 tsp ghee
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (jeera)
• 2 tsp crushed garlic (lehsun)
• 2 round red chillies (boriya mirch)
• 10 curry leaves (kadi patta)
• a pinch of asafoetida (hing)
• 1/4 tsp haldi powder (turmeric powder)
• 1 tbsp tamarind (imli) pulp
• 1 tbsp jaggery (gur)
• salt (namak) to taste, restricted salt for health
• 1 tbsp finely chopped coriander (dhania)

Steps

1. To make quick tomato rasam, combine all the rasam powder ingredients in a small non-stick pan, and dry roast on a slow flame for 4 to 5 minutes or till they release flavour, while stirring continuously. Keep aside.
2. Allow it to cool slightly and blend in a mixer to a smooth powder. Keep aside.
3. Heat ghee in a deep pan, add cumin seeds, garlic, boriya chilli, curry leaves and asafetida, saute for a few seconds.
4. Add the tomatoes and salt, mix well and cook on medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes, while mashing and stirring occasionally.
5. Add turmeric powder, rasam powder, tamarind pulp, jaggery and a little salt to taste, mix well.
6. Add 3 cups of hot water, mix well and cook on medium flame for 5 to 8 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
7. Serve the quick tomato rasam hot.