Jul 26, 2010

Pineapple Rasam

Pineapple Rasam has always been a favorite rasam at our place. If you've not had this kind of rasam before, its not too late. Make it today. You'll be glad you did.

I'm trying to think of the words to describe how this rasam tastes. I can tell you that its not a sweet pineapple juice version. The first sip you taste - you taste the tomatoes and then the rasam powder spice flavors kick in - in between all this, there is a hint of pineapple that kind of tap dances on your taste buds - moves around fast. Does not stay in a place. Does not fall flat. Then, you taste the tomatoes again followed by the quick taps of the pineapple. And then you bite into a mustard seed. Time for a break. Now, you drink again...there they are - the tomatoes and the pineapples - and then you bite into a pineapple. Its all pineapple now. Sweet. More rasam ...so you drink again..and again...and then you hit the bottom of the cup. You turn it upside down and shake the last drops in your mouth. Its all over now. Smile. You made yourself happy.


In fact, this rasam was even served at our wedding as a part of the extensive menu. Wish I can have all that kalayana sapadu again. You never get to eat good in your own wedding! LOL!

Many times I like to drink my rasams like soup. And I like it all watery and no lumps and bumps. And this is how I achieve that consistency.

Take a couple of juicy roma tomatoes. Quick chop them into a few pieces and blend them in a blender along with a couple of green chillies. This will be the base.

Pour this into a sauce pan and start the heating process.


Add 1 1/2 tsp of rasam powder, a couple of pinches of hing (asafoetida), salt to taste and a pinch of turmeric. Mix well and boil for about 5-8 mins or until the raw smell of tomatoes go away.



Before you start the rasam process, cook toor daal - about 1/2 cup in a pressure cooker and keep aside.


The tomatoes would probably be thick by now. Go ahead and add some water and keep boiling the rasam.


Now, here's what I do. I even mash up the toor daal in the blender and then add that in here. Like I said, I like a soup consistency without lumps and bumps and pieces of daal to bite into.

Let this cook for about 5-7 mins again. If the rasam gets too thick, add water a little at a time.


Meanwhile, chop up about 1 cup of pineapple pieces and again move to a blender. Also, save a few pieces separately to add to the rasam later.


Blend to a smooth juice.


Now when the daal has cooked nicely, add the pineapple juice in there and let it cook again for a few mins. You can cook until the whole thing thickens.


As it boils, you can see the froth coming up.


At that point, add about 1 tbsp of pineapple pieces. Don't add too much of the fruit - just a few pieces - maybe 1 or 2 for each member in your family. And don't fight over it when you eat.


Now, add enough water so that the rasam reaches the brim on top.



Let this boil and froth one more time. And then switch off the stove.


In a small tadka pan, add a tsp of ghee and when hot, add mustard seeds to splutter. And then add fresh curry leaves and one red chilli. Add on top the rasam. You're done.

Serve hot with rice and a spicy potato fry. You can't go wrong there! 


Now its time to sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful rasam.


Like I said, you can eat this like soup too!



Enjoy! Peace out!

33 comments:

  1. yummy and flavourful and tempting rasam.

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  2. wow, that is such a nice and tempting one. I can simply have it as a soup and not rasam :)

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  3. I love the flavor that pineapple infuses into Rasam.

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  4. Slurp.... tempting . I wish to drink rasam in tumblers.

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  5. Hy Dear,

    I m craze abt this rasam...now am glad I have the yummy recipe here...Thanx da.

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  6. Wwoowww my most favourite rasam, love it much..

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  7. awesome .lovely pics and mouthwatering dish....looks tempting and yum....hats off on step by step pics..loved the last one...incredible

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  8. Lovely rasam with pineapples. we can taste the tanginess and sweetness at the same time just by looking at those pictures..

    Love
    Kairali sisters

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  9. I love pineapple rasam and will usually drink more from the cups served in the wedding than add to the rice!
    BTW is that an Iyasombu? Any rasam made in that one has special flavor , doesn't it? I have one, which I haven't used lately.

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  10. Very interesting combo-pineapple in rasam. Looks delicious:)

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  11. Woww... lovely and delicious recipe.. nice presentation too ..

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  12. Had it in some marriage, and wanted to get my hands on this recipe. thanks for sharing.

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  13. hmmmmm...sigh....another pineapple entry...i love pineapples as a fruit on their own...they are so awesome...i dont think i can ever bring muself to put them in rasam...ill chop and all that and eat it up!!!

    Shobha

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  14. pineapple rasam sounds gr8 n looks delicious n flavorful...never tried this before ,love to try it soon

    Satya
    http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

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  15. My favorite rasam! Rice and rasam is a wonderful comforting meal always. As you said, I always love to relax with a glass of rasam. I can feel the aroma seeing the picture itself...

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  16. I sure would say "peace out" once I finish a bowl of this slurpy stuff! Its one of my favourites too, and I make it a time too many. And now, whenever I get pineapple home, the mister knows exactly what will brew the day after...lol :)

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  17. Pine apple rasam looks wonderfully tasty.My 1st visit here you have agreat space.Following you.Do drop by simply.food some time.

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  18. Oh my! That sounds delectable.

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  19. Its true we never enjoy our own wedding rasam/food..I am drooling over for pineapple rasam u made...

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  20. You make this sound and look irresistible... will surely try..

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  21. I never had this one but heard so much abt it ....looks just fab

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  22. Rasam with pineapple that sounds interesting...can smell it here....:)

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  23. Hey mriganayani,
    Plz visit my blog as I have a surprise for you!

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  24. Pineapple Rasam.. Sooper...Tried it yesterday and it turned out YUMMY! Thanks v much for posting it.

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  25. Nice one, I do believe I'll have to try this one!

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  26. hi I am Venil from Portugal. I am so lazy to post comments usually but this time I need to mention that the pineapple rasam was a huge hit at our party. Friends were eager to get the recipe and when I sent your link, they all enjoyed your site too. These days I dont google for recipes, just pop into your site and if I dont find it only then I google. Good work!! By the way how is your name pronounced?

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  27. Venil- thank you so much. I can't believe that you are following the blog all the way from Portugal!

    You pronounce my name any way you like it! LOL! Actually, its mrig-ah-na-yaa-neeh. Or you could just hear Sharukh Khan sing it in the Dhoom tana song from Om Shanti Om!

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  28. Anu,

    I dont have a blender with me. Can I use pureed tomato and pineapple juice instead, or is that too ambitious to ask :)

    Arch!

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  29. Arch,

    You could try it with pureed tomatoes - but the canned stuff usually has seasoning in it which might not taste great with rasam. Do you have an indian mixie? You could use that instead to puree stuff. Pineapple juice should work good.

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  30. Anu, I dont have a mixie. I am a student at singapore, staying on campus with a shared kitchen and appo apppo yearning for rasams and more so now for pineapple rasam after seeing the season here. Lemme try and get a tomato puree, else will probably add super finely mashed tomatoes! Thanks a ton!

    Arch

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  31. Gotcha Arch. Chopped tomatoes would be fine - just let them boil well in water and you can mash them even using the back of a spoon. And then add the daal and lastly the pineapple juice.

    When I was a student, all I could cook was potato fry and one mean awesome maggi! You are leap years ahead of me! LOL!

    Thanks for stopping by. Let me know if you are looking for any recipe in particular.

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  32. Anu,

    I am this cooking lover. So I even cook and spice my maggi with loads of things :). I am like this unofficial cooker here! I am searching for non-mixie recipes. I make kootus with a self generated mix of ready made coconut milk+jeera powder and a amma sent green chilli paste. I often make your tortillas and upmas :). Pineapple rasam this weekend. Will keep you posted!

    Arch

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