Tomato Charu Recipe | Andhra Style Tomato Rasam

Ingredients

for homemade rasam powder:

• 2 tbsp chana dal
• 2 tsp pepper
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
• ½ tsp cumin
• ¼ tsp methi
• 10 dried red chilli

for masala paste:

• 5 cloves garlic
• 1 inch ginger
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 tsp cumin
• few curry leaves
• 2 chilli

for rasam:

• 3 tomato
• 3 cup water
• ½ cup tamarind extract
• few curry leaves
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp coriander, finely chopped

for tempering:

• 2 tsp oil
• 1 tsp mustard
• ½ tsp cumin
• pinch hing
• 1 dried red chilli

Steps

1. For the rasam powder, put 2 tbsp chana dal, 2 tsp pepper, 2 tsp coriander seeds, ½ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp methi and 10 dried red chilli in a pan.
2. Dry-roast until the spices are aromatic.
3. Cool completely, grind to a fine powder and set aside.
4. Put 5 cloves garlic, 1 inch ginger, ½ tsp pepper, 1 tsp cumin, a few curry leaves and 2 chilli in a mortar and pestle.
5. Pound and crush until well combined, then set aside.
6. Boil 3 tomato in 3 cup water in a saucepan.
7. Boil for 5 minutes until the tomatoes are well blanched.
8. Let cool completely, then peel and mash the tomatoes thoroughly.
9. Add ½ cup tamarind extract, a few curry leaves, ½ tsp turmeric and 1 tsp salt.
10. Let the tamarind cook at a boil for 5 minutes or until well cooked.
11. Mix in the crushed garlic masala and 1 tbsp rasam powder thoroughly.
12. Pour in water as required to adjust consistency.
13. Keep at a boil for 5 minutes or until the flavours are well absorbed.
14. For the tempering, heat 2 tsp oil and splutter 1 tsp mustard, ½ tsp cumin, a pinch of hing and 1 dried red chilli.
15. Let the tempering splutter and pour it over the rasam.
16. Add 2 tbsp coriander and mix thoroughly.
17. Enjoy the Tomato Charu with hot steamed rice.