Friday, May 14, 2010

Rasam

Rasam can be made in several ways.  If you travel to Kerala and eat at a local restaurant your table will always have two or three white jugs filled with rasam, butter milk and another with spiced, warm buttermilk.  These come on all table in spite of a sambar or dhal curry.  I always like the rasam they serve which is watery, tangy and spicy.  I can drink it as it is reminding me of a clear thin soup.  Today, I am sharing this recipe with some tricks shared by a Tamil friend of mine.  She encouraged me to just bring the rasam to boiling point and never over boiling.  I have to agree with her that the taste of the rasam when just brought to boiling point is just right for my taste rather than when its is let to boil for a long time.  I know there will be difference of opinion on this but I like my rasam the best this way.  Again, this is spicy, tangy and lip smacking.

Ingredients:
Tomato (on the vine kind) - 2 medium
Shallots chopped    - 1 Tbspn
Garlic                     - 6-8 cloves (plump)
Curry Leaves         - 1 spring
Dry red chilies        - 5
Green chilies          - 2 (optional)Jeera                      - 1/4 tspn
Mustard                 - 1/2 tspn
Asafoetida             - 1/4 tspn
Methi powder        - 1/4 tspn
Turmeric                - 1/2 tspn
Coriander Powder - 1/2 tspn
Pepper powder      - 1 tspn
Marble size tamarind
Water - 5 cups
Salt - 1 1/2 tspn table salt (Please use your judgment when adding salt)
Oil - 1 Tbspn 

Method:
1. Crush the chopped tomatoes with your hand or a spoon. This can be coarse not a paste
2. Soak the tamarind in about a cup of water
3. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard and jeera
4. Once the mustard splutters add shallots, green chilies, red chilies and curry leaves and saute
5. When your onions are translucent add the garlic and saute
6. Follow up with all the powders and saute adding the tomato without burning the powders
7. Stir for a minute and add 4 cups of water
8. Mix the tamarind water with your hand making sure you have extracted the tamarind and its mixed in the water
9. Bring the whole mixture to a boil add about a handful of chopped coriander leaves.

Notes:
1. The taste as I have mentioned is when you just bring the rasam to a boil and not over do it.


Contributor: Sunitha

66 comments:

  1. when will i ever stop using ready made rasam mix and start making the podi and the curry on my own..i have no clue... :)
    love the 1st pic

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  2. rasam pass me that bottle of rasam now its my lunch time..love to have it ..awesomepictures..super da

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  3. Wowwwwwwwwww... awesome presentation.. looks wonderful dear!!

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  4. Warm Buttermilk is new to me, sounds wonderful. If you know the recipe do post one day. I love Buttermilk, I make the regular one.

    Rasam looks mouthwatering, nice serving bowl too. I use Plum tomatoes without the skin and seeds.

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  5. tangy rasam! never thought over boiling would change its taste.. thats a nice tip.

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  6. Rasam in bottle looks great...simple and delicious..awesome pictures.

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  7. Methi and onions in rasam are new to me.They sound delicious though!Lovely clicks and liked the idea of rasam in a jar!

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  8. Awesome rasam. Love the presentation in the little jar. I agree with you. My mom never boils rasam for long either.

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  9. woowww....loved the first pis and theer is somthing about nice in the last pic as well...loved it so much!...never made rasam at home....

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  10. Sunitha,

    Rasam looks really nice, adipoli, Simple and tasty dish. I don't know what to say more than that i love it.

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  11. Never added methi in rasam, but looks lovely!

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  12. Nice way to guide us through making rasam, with good tip too! I really want to try to make it now.

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  13. wow..thats so tempting...never had rasam before...de-licious...lovely pics!

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  14. Yummy ....rasam..beautiful & very well presented...thanks for sharing such a nice recipe...

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  15. Looks delicious, I dont like to let it boil :) but never tried adding methi powder before.

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  16. Wow..Rasam kandittu sahikunilla, lunch just kazhije ullu onnude kazhikan thonund rasam koode undel..Kidu pictures...

    Love
    Kairali sisters

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  17. Brilliant pics esp the first one..Love this simple, spicy and delicious rasam..

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  18. Love it Sunita, Wow, thanks for this recipe, I will surely try it out.

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  19. Delicious and healthy too.Nice presentation.

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  20. Delicious. Pics are really tempting. Thanks for the tip.

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  21. awesome pix... nice twist to rasam... Mine is usually boiled for a looong time...

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  22. I have a rasam recipe in my draft that never got posted. Splendid Rasam. Is that Campari tomato in the picture? I make Rasam with that too cause I love the taste. Great shots!And yes, my picture has some tomato on the vines too..just not as good looking as urs. :(. happy weekend!

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  23. yumm i love rasam , never made it , have to give it a try

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  24. OMG! look at ur presentation... awesome!!! I just kept looking at the pictures w/ my mouth open....

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  25. wow !!!!! wonderful click. Seriously lovely presentation, very creative. I just couldn't take my eyes out of your pics. all time fav rasam. Love yours!!!

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  26. the pics are simply amazing...You always do a great job with presentations...I liked that and wish to do same :)

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  27. your pictures are awesome as usual, and nice click of rasam!

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  28. the Beautiful pics u shoot ,make the Rasam look all the more beautiful....
    Lovely pics and delicious recipe!!

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  29. Loved the way u make ur pics look beautiful. Simpe, yet elegant. Loved the last one specially. Nice of u to share recipe for rasam. It may seem so simple, but an essential in many homes.

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  30. I'm bookmarking this cos I love rasam.

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  31. Never cooked rasam...liked your details and the presentation.

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  32. My all time faav dear very comfort accompaniment with hot rice.

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  33. My all time faav dear very comfort accompaniment with hot rice.

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  34. Loved the Rasam's color. Could you pass me some please :)?

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  35. Gr8 and tempting pics !!!! Just mouth watering :)

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  36. Very artistically photographed!!!

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  37. I think I had this before at the only Sri-lankan restaurant in town since South Asian restaurants here are mostly served North Indian food.

    Nice pic, btw!

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  38. Thanks for stopping by. Nice clicks :)

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  39. Delicious and colorful... Nice click dear..

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  40. loved the presentation.. beautiful pic... even though the rasam preparation varies from place to place this is one of the best comfort food/drink we have...

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  41. Hey nice presentation...i loved the pics...i think each one us have differnt versions of preparing rasam..urs is something different and nice too...

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  42. rasam looks great. using methi is new to me...classic photos

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  43. Man this rsama looks just divine :))

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  44. mmm. looks good! nice pics.

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  45. Yummm! looks to good! I never tried this version of rasam but I will try it!
    Have a lovely weekend!

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  46. One of my most favorite dishes..rasam! Looks fantastic

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  47. I have heard of rasam but have never tasted it! Love all of the spices in here!

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  48. wow, I've never heard of rasam - thanks for the introduction to it!

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  49. My comforting food, will just survive for many days with rasam..

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  50. ok got to come out with it- I visit ur blog more for the pics and accessories used than for the recipes. now that said, pls dont abandon me from this blog

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  51. as always ur pics..fantastic..rasam is one thing that my husband tells me not to make..y??? coz it never comes out to his taste..i have tried so manyrecipes..even different readymade mixes..even my mom's his moms but the answer is always NO.So i gave up...now maybe i will give urs a try and c wat the verdict is.Keeping my fingers crossed!~~~

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  52. This sounds so good. I have never had. I am always amazed at all of the wonderful spices you use. I have to get out and stock my pantry so I can try your recipes.

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  53. I simply love rasam. The way U made is truly yumm dear...slurrrpppp! ;)

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  54. Sunitha..These Clicks are Superb !!! They are a work of art.. I'm a huge fan of Rasam..But I do leave mine to boil..I'll give this Rasam version a try..as it just looks so delicious..I can just drink it as is like Soup !!!

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  55. I was offered rassam every time I stayed for dinner at my friends. Bringing back very sweet memories!

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  56. New to me but looks very delicious with all thge sour ingredients in there. I would love it. Thanks for sharing. MaryMoh at http://www.keeplearningkeepsmiling.com

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  57. You are really a skilled photographer...pictures have come out very well. Yeah your friend is right, I too make sure...rasam come to one single boil...will rush to remove it from the stone, hehe. I love the way u presented it, too good man.

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  58. Awesome click as always...rasam looks super...

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  59. rasam such a comforting dish....

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  60. loved the presentation..Beautiful pic...

    Adding Shallots and garlic to the rasam is very new to me,I am sure they both enhance the rasam flavor...
    Great entry.....

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  61. rasam kidu aayitundu..kuppiyum rasavum...

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