Rasam ( Saru )

Mangalurian's meal starts with rasam. It's the main part of their food system. My mom-in-law makes the best Rasam in the world. She taught me the recipe. It's very easy with a few steps to follow.

• 1/2 Cup Toor Dal ( soak for 10 minutes )
• 4-6 Tomatoes, Cut into Large pieces
• Green Chili's, slit, to taste
• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric Powder
• A piece of Jaggery
• Salt to taste
• 3 Cups Water
• 2 Tbsp Rasam Powder
• Coconut milk 1/4 Cup ( Optional )
• Coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 Tbsp of Ghee
• Few Curry Leaves

Pressure cook the toor dal with little turmeric powder.  In a separate pan, add the tomatoes, green chili's, turmeric powder, jaggery and salt. Now add about 3 Cups of water and let it cook. Cooking process may take about 20 to 30 minutes. Now add the cooked dal and rasam powder to this and let it come to a boil. Add the coconut milk and coriander leaves, now turn off the stove. Add a simple tadka with ghee and just curry leaves. Serve hot with Rice.

Rasam Powder ( Saru Hudi )

I got this recipe from my mom. It's very easy to make.  You can store this one for up to a month or so.

• 1 Tbsp of Oil
• Handful of Red Chili's
• 10 spoons of Coriander Seeds 
• 2 Spoons of Fenugreek Seeds
• 3 Spoons of Cumin Seeds
• 1/4th Spoon of Asafoetida 

Fry the above listed ingredients in the order,adding one by one. Let it cool completely before grinding to make the powder. Store in an air tight container (no need to refrigerate).

Long bean seeds' Curry Recipe!

Long beans are everyday part of mangalorians diet. This curry is made of it's seed and coconut with the mixture of spices. This goes really well with chapati and rice. Here is the recipe,

• 1 Cup of Long bean seeds, soaked in 2 Cups of water for 8 hrs
• 2 Onions, sliced
• 1/4 Cup Coconut, Grated
• 1 Tsp Tamarind Juice
• A small piece of Jaggery
• Curry Leaves
• Salt to taste

For Curry Powder-

• 2 Tsp Oil
• 5 Red Chili, Slit
• 1 Spoon Coriander Powder
• 1 Spoon Urad Dal
• 1/2 Spoon Fenugreek/Methi Seeds
• 1/4 Spoon Cumin Seeds

Pressure cook the seeds in the water it has been soaked in. Now to this add the onion and let it boil. Meanwhile prepare the curry powder. In a pan, add the oil and once it gets heated add the red chili, and fry for a minute. Now add the coriander powder and fry for a minute. Add Urad dal, fry until it turns golden brown. Add the fenugreek seeds and saute for 30 seconds. Now add cumin seeds and turn off the stove. Let it cool completely before grinding.

Blend the coconut, tamarind juice and curry powder until the mixture is smooth. Add this to the boiling mixture of seeds and onions. Mix really well. Now add the salt, jaggery and curry leaves. Let the mixture come to a boil. Turn off the stove and serve hot with Chapati or Rice.