Devasthana Saaru/ Vattunu saaru ( Temple Rasam with freshly ground spices)

We Mangalorean Konkanis swear by our temple rasam or Devasthana Saaru as we call it. "Devasthan" means "temple" in English and "Saaru" is the Konkani word for rasam. What is rasam?? Rasam is a spicy, tangy soup that is made with tomatoes and spices. It is usually served as an accompaniment to rice the same way dal is served with rice. People love to drink it too. It is also purported to be the perfect remedy for cough and cold. It not only clears your sinuses but also rekindles your appetite. 

So why is Devasthana Saaru so special?? It is because it is almost impossible to recreate the taste of it at home. This rasam is usually served with food at events in the temple. Why is food served at the temple? Well, like anywhere else in the world, food is the greatest motivator. Therefore during big religious events/activities in the temple, lunch/dinner is served afterwards. It also feeds many hungry people. Coming back to the rasam, this particular rasam is always made by freshly roasting and grinding the spices and then making it. A powdered version is never used. That is why this rasam is also called "Vattunu Saaru "which translates to "Ground rasam" or "Arachi rasam" as South Indians call it. The aroma and flavor of this rasam both as it is made and when it is consumed is unlike any other! You have to make it to believe it! 

For the longest I used to think that the task of making it was very tedious. But in reality it is not. It is actually quite easy and uses ingredients normally present in your kitchen. Do try it.. You will never buy rasam powder again! This recipe has been kindly shared by my very talented cousin Karuna who is also an excellent cook!

Servings: 6-8

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 20-25 mins Total time: 25-30 mins 

Ingredients: 

Coriander seeds: 2 tsp

Cumin seeds/jeera: 1/2 tsp

Chana dal ( split chick peas): 1 tbsp 

Urad dal ( split matpe beans): 1 tbsp

Pepper corns: 5-6

Methi/ fenugreek seeds: 4-5

Turmeric powder: 1/2 tsp

Curry leaves: 1 sprig

Hing/Asofoetida powder: 1/8 tsp

Salt: 1 tsp ( adjust as per taste)

Dried Red chillies: 5-6 

Tamarind pulp: 1 tsp 

Green chillies: 4-5

Tomatoes: 2 medium sized, chopped

Coriander leaves, chopped: 2 tbsp

Water: 1 Liter

For seasoning:

Coconut oil: 1 tbsp

Mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Curry leaves: 1 sprig 

Hing: a pinch ( either powder or paste)

Method: 

Take 1 liter water in a pot. Add the chopped tomatoes, green chillies and salt. Bring it to a boil. Continue boiling for 10 mins. 

While the above mixture is boiling, 

dry roast the coriander seeds, cumin,  urad dal, Chana dal, pepper corns, methi, haldi, curry leaves, hing, red chillies. Once cooled add it to the blender. Add tamarind, little water and grind to a paste. 

Add this to the pot with boiling water and tomatoes. Continue boiling for 5-10 mins. Turn off the flame. Garnish with curry leaves. 

Tempering: 

Heat coconut oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds. Once the mustard seeds splutter, add the curry leaves and a pinch of Asofoetida. Turn off the flame. Add this to the above pot. 

Serve hot with rice or drink it like a soup!! 

Enjoy!

I am bringing this delicious soup to Fiesta Friday #182 so that all our friends can enjoy something very Indian! Angie's cohosts this week are Liz @ spades, spatulas & spoons and Jenny @ Jenny Is Baking.

Cooking made easy:

Cleaning as you cook reduces the stress of cleaning after a meal. It also ensures that the kitchen is not messy. 

Tip for healthy living:

Try to incorporate atleast one vegetarian meal per week or per day whichever is feasible for you. It helps keep the system clean!

Food for thought:

Fortune is like glass-the brighter the glitter, the more easily broken. Pubilius Syrus 

Please do share your thoughts. Your opinion matters!

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Tomato Pickle

We Indians love our pickles!!! It is an ubiquitous part of all our meals!! Served and eaten in minuscule quantities, this condiment adds flavor to our meal like none other!!

Our pickles are nothing like the western pickles! Our pickles are fiery and usually bright red in color due to the presence of red chillies in them. Even our green colored pickles or pickles of any other color are still spicy. There are very few that are on the sweeter side and they too have chilli powder in them. While most of our pickles has vegetables that have been soaked in brine, it is not a requirement. We can make pickles without brine. Of course, the shelf life of pickles made without brine is much lower than those made with brine.

It is pickle season now in India. We pickle all kinds of vegetables, some fruits like mango and even fish!! It is truly delicious!!

Those who follow me know that I don't make anything that is tedious or time consuming!! Simply because I don't have that kind of time! Check my quick zucchini pickle!
My husband loves pickles and goes through a whole bottle in 3-4 days!! The reason being that I don't cook with too much spice any more and he finds the food too bland for his palate. He compensates by using pickles!

Today I am bringing you a very easy pickle that requires very few ingredients, is easy to make and does not require too much attention while making it. It has a wonderful shelf life! The recipe courtesy goes to an individual whom I look up to: Radha Natarajan. She blogs at Your Everyday Cook. You can check out her recipe here.  Her blog is full of simple recipes that bachelors and students living in hostel can make!!

I have made a few modifications, but mostly followed her recipe! Being that tomatoes are in season and are bountiful, I decided to bring this today to you.

Servings: makes one 8oz bottle.

Prep time: 10 minsCook time: 30-60  minsTotal time: 40-70 mins

Ingredients:

Sesame oil: 3-4 tbsp
Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
Roasted fenugreek powder: 1 tbsp
Tomatoes: 6 medium sized, chopped
Kashmiri red chili powder: 3-4 tbsp
Asofoetida powder ( Hing): 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder: 1/4 tsp
Tamarind pulp: 1/2 tsp
Jaggery or brown sugar: 1/4 tsp
Salt: 1 tsp ( adjust as needed)

Method:

Heat sesame oil on medium heat in a heavy-bottomed saucepan or wok. 

Add mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add the chopped tomatoes. 

Add the turmeric powder, Asofoetida powder, red chilli powder, fenugreek powder, salt and jaggery. 

Reduce the flame. 

Cover and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring intermittently  or until they are almost homogenous and starts leaving oil at the top.

DO NOT ADD WATER. The tomatoes give out a lot of water and will start boiling vigorously. Just continue boiling under low flame until all the water content has evaporated and it stops boiling.

Turn off the flame.

Once the pickle has slightly cooled, transfer it to dry glass jar that is completely dry.

It stays fresh at room temperature for upto 7 days and fresh in the refrigerator for upto 30 days.

Enjoy!

I am so excited today to be co-hosting Fiesta Friday#172 with my dear friend and a very talented blogger  Jhuls @ The Not So Creative Cook!  Angie is just amazing and a great hostess!! If you have never been to the Fiesta, you definitely should! It is so much fun! You can check the guidelines here. I know I don't visit you guys often, even though I want to.. There is only so much time in one day and only so much energy in one person. Work is very busy.. You see.. I am moving up people you see..I guess that is all good. So, I will party with you guys when I can. I am definitely here for this Fiesta! Do stop by to say hello. It will be nice to catch up.

Cooking made easy:

Using a thick bottomed dish is good because it keeps the pickle from burning. Same is true for cooking on low flame. So, for these kind of recipes, you need patience. I usually do it when I am cooking my regular food and I am present in the kitchen so that I can periodically stir it. Another way to do it is to use a timer and stir every 5 mins until it is done.

Tip for healthy living:

There is nothing like home-made pickle as you can control the amount of salt that goes into it. Too much sodium can increase your blood pressure.

Food for thought:

The opinion which other people have of you is their problem, not yours. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Please do share your thoughts. Your opinion matters!

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Sago/ Sabudana Idlis ( steamed dumplings made from Tapioca pearls)

Sago/sabudana or tapioca is very commonly used during fasting in India. There is Sabudana khichidi, Sabudana vadas, Sabudana thalipeeth. Sago pudding or kheer is a popular dessert made for special days. I am very fond of Sabudana on a regular basis, be it religious days or not. I could eat these items anytime.

Recently, my mom introduced me to Sabudana idlis. I have made many kinds of idlis: regular idli, varai idli, mallige idli, sannas, kulith idli, cucumber idli, cornmeal idlis, quinoa idlis. But Sabudana idlis , I have not made. I decided to try mom's recipe as she was raving about these idlis. She also told me to make sure that I serve them with saagu, kurma, matar paneer  or any such curry or not the regular sambar. You know what they say!! Mom is always correct!!! Well it was definitely correct in this case! The idlis were soft, fluffy and delicious! I served it with saagu and it made for a truly delicious breakfast!

It is a great solution for next day breakfast if you have forgotten to make an idli or dosa batter. It is very simple and easy to make recipe with no grinding involved! You just mix the ingredients, make the batter the previous night and keep ready. In the morning just steam it and you have hot idli ready!!

Servings: 4-6

Prep time: 10 minutes + fermentation time ( 3-4hours)

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 20 mins + fermentation time.

Ingredients :

Sabudana/sago/tapioca pearls: 1 cup
Rice rawa/ Cream of rice: 1 cup
Yogurt/Curd: 2 cups
Water: 1 cup ( may not need all)
Salt: 1/2 tsp ( adjust according to taste)
Baking soda: 1/4 tsp
Sugar: 1 tsp
Water: for steaming the idlis , as per individual steamer requirement.

Method:

Take Sabudana and washed rice rava in a bowl.
 Add 2 cups of yogurt and  mix . 
Add water little bit at a time to get a batter consistency that is not too thick or too runny.
Cover and keep aside for atleast 3-4 hours for fermentation. I leave mine overnight.
When ready to steam, add salt, sugar and baking soda to the batter. Mix well.

When you are ready to cook the idlis, grease the idli mold with ghee/ butter fill it with batter until 2/3 full. 
Boil water in the steamer. 
Once the water is boiling place the idli stand in the steamer. 
Steam in the idli steamer / pressure cooker ( without using the weight) for 10 minutes on medium- high flame.
Turn off the heat and let it cool down in the steamer for another 10 minutes before taking them out of the mold.

Serve hot with chutney/ curry/ sambar of your choice!

Enjoy!!


I am bringing this to Angie's Fiesta Friday#173. Angie's cohosts this week are Lindy @ Love In The Kitchen and Paula @ Her Life Is Love

Cooking made easy: 

Idlis can be steamed in the traditional steamer, or in a regular pressure cooker ( without putting the whistle on). You can also steam it in an electric steamer or even in a rice cooker! 
If you do not have the idli stand, use small ramekins or metal bowls to steam the idlis.

Tip for healthy living: 

Urad dal or matpe bean dal can create considerable amount of gas and bloating in people with issues digesting beans. For such people, it is best to avoid gassy foods like beans and vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, onion etc. 

Food for thought:

We aim above the mark to hit the mark. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Please do share your thoughts. Your opinion matters!

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