In a formal meal, the rasam course is served after the sambhar course and followed by curd rice. Served to eat with rice or few people enjoy drinking the light soup by itself. Rasam is consumed as an appetizer before the beginning of a meal.Rasam can be considered daily, a mandatory curry in most homes.

Today I’m sharing a tamarind rasam recipe without tomato and dal. The recipe is simple and can be followed with ease. This rasam is ideal during winter and cold evenings.

Ingredients :

Tamarind: Medium Lemon sized ball

Garlic cloves: 3 to 4 nos (crush them lightly)

Fenugreek seed powder(Methi / Menthulu): ¼ tsp

Turmeric powder: ¼ tsp

Pepper powder: 1.5 tsp

Salt ( to taste)

Asafoetida (Hing): 2 pinches

For seasoning:

Mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Cumin seeds( Jeera): 1 tsp

Curry leaves: 1 stalk

Dry red chillies: 2 nos

For garnishing:

Chopped coriander leaves : 2 tbsp

Procedure for preparing Tamarind rasam without tomato and dal:

Method:

• Soak tamarind in 1 cup water for 30 mins. Strain the pulp by adding water.
• Heat oil in a kadhai and add mustard seeds. Add garlic pods, cumin seeds, curry leaves, dry red chilies.
• Saute a while and add pepper powder, Fenugreek seed powder and asofoetida. Add tamarind water along with squeezed pulp.
• To this add 1 cup water and turmeric powder.
• Mix the watery solution, add salt as per taste. Cook till it boils.
• Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with steamed rice.

The pepper aroma will be strong and smells perfect. Remembering the catchy words of a popular ad: Ee rasam bahu kemam (this rasam taste excellent)

Benefits of having Rasam:

• Rasam when had at the beginning of the meal is said to increases the appetite.
• Rasam contains many spices which are considered beneficial to health.
• Steaming hot rasam is soothing when you are suffering from a cold, cough or sore throat.
• When you have a headache plan for a rasam preparation, it will relieve your headache.
• Rasam is served  to the person who is sick with fever and has no appetite and feels tastelessness in the mouth, it not only increases the appetite but also the spices in the rasam hit the mouth and throat increasing the taste in the mouth.

If you like this recipe or know of any variations do let us know in the comments.

Summer special recipes for further reading: Buttermilk, Ragi Java, Green Mango drink, Pudina Pani