Rasam

- South Indian Tomato Soup -

Rasam is a delicious, simple South Indian soup that can be served alongside a meat curry or dal, or even on its own with rice for a very light meal. It is vegetarian, and very easy to prepare, but the flavours have a lot of depth making it well worth a trip to the store for some rasam powder and Indian spices.

Rasam (South Indian Tomato Soup)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 3 tomatoes, chopped or sliced
• 1 small onion
• 3 green chillies, stemmed and slit down the middle
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 2 tsp red chilli powder 
• 1 pinch turmeric
• 1 tsp salt 
• 2 tsp rasam powder
• 2 cups water
  
  For the Tadka:
• Coconut or tasteless oil
• 1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 sprigs (appx 10) curry leaves
• 2 tbsp channa dal
• 3 cloves garlic  (crushed)
• 3 dried red chillies
  
  To serve:
• White short grain rice
• Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves

Directions: 

1. Place all soup ingredients in a heavy bottomed pot and bring to a boil
2. Reduce and simmer for 2-3 minutes,covered, until tomatoes are soft
3. While the soup is simmering, make the tadka (tempering: in a small pot, mix the tadka ingredients and toast until garlic is golden, then remove from the heat and quickly drop this into the rasam pot, covering again to keep the flavours inside
4. Serve hot over rice, garnished with fresh coriander leaves

Enjoy!