Cumin rasam is a flavorful and aromatic South Indian soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, spices, and of course, cumin seeds. It’s known for its tangy and spicy taste and is often served as a comforting dish, especially during cold weather or when someone is feeling under the weather.

Here is recipe for making cumin rasam that you can drink like soup or mix with rice.

Ingredients:

1. Cumin / Jeera – 1 Tbsp
2. Black peppercorns – 1 Tbsp
3. Mustard seeds -1 tsp
4. Fenugreek seeds (optional) – 1 tsp
5. Red chilies – 2-3
6. Ghee – 1 Tbsp
7. Hing -1/4 tsp
8. Curry leaves – few
9. Minced ginger – 1 Tbsp
10. Minced garlic – 1 Tbsp
11. Chopped tomatoes – 2 medium size
12. Tamarind paste – 1 Tbsp
13. Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
14. Salt to taste
15. 4 cups water
16. Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing

Preparation:

1. Dry roast the cumin seeds, black peppercorns, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and dried red chilies in a pan over medium heat until fragrant. Allow the spices to cool, then grind them into a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
2. Heat ghee or oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the asafoetida and curry leaves, and sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.
3. Add the minced ginger and garlic to the pot, and sauté until golden brown.
4. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot, along with turmeric powder and salt. Cook until the tomatoes are soft and mushy.
5. Dilute the tamarind paste in 1 cup of water, then add it to the pot along with the remaining 3 cups of water.
6. Stir in the ground spice powder and bring the rasam to a gentle boil. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
7. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. If the rasam is too tangy, you can add a pinch of jaggery to balance the flavors.
8. Remove the pot from the heat and garnish the cumin rasam with chopped coriander leaves.

Serve the cumin rasam hot as a soup or with steamed rice and vegetable side dishes as part of a traditional South Indian meal. Enjoy your flavorful and comforting cumin rasam! Adjust the spiciness and tanginess according to your preference by varying the amount of dried red chilies and tamarind paste used.

Image credit: The Grand Sweets And Snacks, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons