Lemon Rasam | Lemon and lentil clear soup

Sometimes, after having lot of  rich and spicy food continuously, I feel like I need a break from all these and start thinking of a comfort food. Rasam is one such food for me.I feel ,it has to be termed as a delicacy from southern parts of India. I have been choosing rasam over any other sambar variety from my childhood.I'm a happy person if I have rasam, rice and potato.

There are quite some varieties in Rasam. Pepper/Milagu rasam,Garlic rasam,Tomato rasam are a few to list.Here I'm showing you a variety called 'Lemon Rasam'.

Ingredients

Toor Dal                               3 tbsp
Ginger root                           1 inch( finely chopped)
Green Chillies                       2 ( finely chopped)
Turmeric powder                  1 tsp
Asafoetida/hing                     1/4 tsp
Rasam powder                     1 tsp
Salt                                       to taste
Lemon                                  1 ( 1 1/2 if small)
Curry leaves                         few
Coriander leaves/ cilantro     few

To temper

Ghee / Clarified butter        1 tsp
Mustard seeds                   1/2 tsp
Cumin seeds                      1/2 tsp

Method

Cook toor dal with 2 cups of water and 1/8 tsp turmeric.I usually pressure cook  them.Once done ,gently collect the dal water and set aside.

Heat a small pan with ghee and add the ingredients mentioned for tempering.Once mustard seeds start crackling ,add ginger and green chillies and saute for 30 seconds.Then add the dal water and a tbsp of cooked dal.To this add turmeric powder, hing , rasam powder and salt.Add  half a cup of water and keep the heat to low-medium. Let it boil until you notice a bubbling froth.Add chopped curry leaves and coriander leaves and turn off the heat.Finally squeeze a lemon on top of it and give it a gentle mix.Serve it over a bed of hot rice with some ghee and a spicy vegetable of your choice.

Note

• Ginger and green chillies are important for taste and flavor.

• Do not heat after adding lemon juice.