Lemon rasam

Rasam is a south Indian soup and a very important part of a meal in south (Chennai). It is served with rice or can drink it. It is enjoyed by every one. In south, during lunch time, when meals (thali) is serve, rasam is served with other dishes. Rasam are made in varieties, one among them is lemon rasam. My mother in law prepares it differently which I will share with you soon. I got this recipe from one of my friend and it was so delicious, I cannot resist it and the taste is entirely different. I always prefer rasam to serve it with plain rice, stir fry vegetable (porriyal) or any fried non vegeterian which should be spicy.

Ingredients

  1. Lemon (big) – 1
  2. Tomato (medium) – 1
  3. Pepper powder – 3/4 tsp
  4. Green chilli – 1
  5. Garlic cloves (big) – 4 to 5
  6. Turmeric powder (optional) – 1/2 tsp
  7. Salt - as per taste
  8. Water – 2 cups
  9. Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp
  10. Tadka/seasoning

  11. Oil – 2 tsp
  12. Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
  13. Hing (asafoetida) – a big pinch
  14. Curry leaves – 15
  15. Dry chillies - 3

Method

  1. Squeeze the juice from lemon and keep it aside.
  2. Crush garlic clove and green chilli coarsely in a pestle and mortal and keep it aside.
  3. Grind the tomato into puri, add it into a bowl and keep it aside.
  4. Mix water into tomato puri, add the crushed green chilli and garlic clove mixture, lemon juice, pepper powder, coriander leaves, salt, mix it well and keep it ready.
  5. Preheat the vessel with oil, when hot, add mustard seeds, hing, and dry chillies, curry leaves, and let it sizzle for few seconds.
  6. Add the tomato mixture and when it starts boiling, let it boil for 30sec and switch it off.
  7. Serve it with plain rice.

Notes

  1. Can grind green chilli and garlic with tomato but it give a different taste.
  2. Check the sourness of tomato and lemon mixture, if it is very sour can add more water and pepper powder.
  3. Add the coriander leaves with its stalk.
  4. If the green chilli is mild spicy can add 2 chillies.