Paruppu Rasam - Pappu Charu - Pappu saaru

Paruppu Rasam or Pappu charu or saaru is a popular  south Indian soup made with lentils, tamarind juice and spices. Pappu charu goes well with Rice, Pulagam and Moongdal rice. This rasam is called saaru in kannada and charu in telugu.It helps well in digestion. you can also have it as a soup. It is a very comforting recipe. Now we learn to make simple Lentil based rasam.

Ingredients

Toor dal - 1/4 cup.
Tomato - 1.
Tamarind - Goosebery size.
Turmeric - 1/8 tsp.
Rasam(charu) Powder - 1 tsp.
 Sambar powder - 1/4 tsp.
Salt - to taste.
coriander leaves - 2 tbsp.(chopped)

To Temper

oil - 1 tsp.
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp.
cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp.
fenugreek seeds - 5.
Green chillies - 1.
Red chillies - 2.
Curry leaves - 1 sprig.
hing - generous pinch.
Garlic - 4.


Preparation

Soak the tamarind in 1 cup of water for minimum 1/2 an hour, till tamarind becomes soft, then squeeze the tamarind, retain the juice and throw the pulp.

Add needed water to toor dal, and add little turmeric to it and pressure cook it till it turns mushy.

Method

• Heat the oil, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add cumin seeds,when it sizzles, add fenugreek seeds, Greenchillies, red chillies,hing, curry leaves and Garlic.

• When Garlic turns golden brown colour, add tomatoes saute till tomatoes turns mushy.

• Add tamarind juice, Rasam powder, sambar powder and salt.

• When Raw smell of tamarind juice goes add mashed toor dal and needed water, according to the consistency. Let it cook in a medium low flame, till you get the froth. Then switch off the flame and Garnish with fresh cilantro.

Note:

Adding little sambar powder gives additional taste to rasam.