Instant / Easy Tomato Rasam ( without Rasam Powder)

This is a easy to make  and also a comfort food from South India.  Though there are many varieties  of rasam; i want to share this simple version, especially for beginners.

Ingredients:

Tomato -1 big
Garlic- 3 to 4 cloves
Black pepper - 1 tsp
Jeera / Cumin seeds -1 tsp
Tamarind - a small gooseberry size
Turmeric powder- ½ tsp
Curry leaves - 1 sprig
Coriander leaves - 1 tbsp ( chopped)
Water - 1½ - 2 cups

For seasoning:

Oil -  1 to 2 tsp

Mustard - 1 tsp

Red chillies - 2

Asafoetida - a pinch

Directions:

Soak the tamarind in a cup of water for 10 minutes.  Extract the juice and keep aside.

Add tomato, jeera, pepper and garlic cloves in a mixie and grind  it into a fine paste.

Add the paste to the tamarind juice along with 1 to 1½ of water to dilute.  Add salt and keep aside.

Heat oil in a kadai;  season it with mustard seeds and red chilies.  

Once it crackles;  add the prepared tomato mixture along with curry leaves and chopped coriander leaves.  Allow to cook in medium flame.

Once the rasam starts to become frothy; switch off of the gas. (don't allow to boil; then the taste of rasam will change).

Transfer into a suitable container and serve hot with kootu , poriyal ( stir fry) or even with pappad it will taste awesome.

Variations:

You can season it with ghee instead of oil.

Instead of grinding the garlic; you can crush and add while seasoning.