By-Dr.Sirisha Potluri:
Ingredients:
10-12 tomatoes
Cilantro stems from two big cilantro bunches
Indian spices ( turmeric, red chili powder)
8-10 garlic cloves
3 inch ginger piece
Tamarind ribs ( 2-3 pieces)
1-2 medjool dates
1 table spoon cumin seeds
1/2 tsp methi seeds
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
Salt to taste.
Instructions:
Cut tomatoes and cilantro stems and mix them along with tamarind and medjool dates with hand giving pressure, you can add little bit salt too if using it. Crushing all these with hand brings out nice flavor. Add 4-5 cups of water to this mix along with a tablespoon of turmeric a, tsp of red chili powder and few curry leaves and boil for 6-8 minutes.
To prepare rasam masala :
In mortar and pestle/ rolu add cumin seeds, peppercorns, methi seeds and grind them to coarse mixture, now add garlic and ginger and grind again. Add this mixture to boiling rasam and let it cook for 5 more minutes.
Add 1 cup of cooked lentils in the rasam and mix well, adjust salt and add 1 cup of thinly chopped cilantro and off the stove.
Strain some of the veggies out and keep some in the rasam.
This tastes delicious as soup with dome added quinoa or brown rice in it!
