Tomato Rasam and Potato Fry

Although I have always had an interest in cooking, my kitchen experience before marriage was limited to helping mom with a little chopping or stirring and since me and Manoj were moving to Hyderabad after the wedding one of my major concerns was managing a kitchen all by myself. And you know how as a new bride you want to impress everyone, and your culinary skills are such a major judging factor especially with elders in the family.

Little did I know that my worries were so needless. I cannot thank God enough for a hubby who is not at all fussy about food (but is as crazy about it as me) and is so patient and supportive of my endless experiments in the kitchen. We have lots of fun trying out new cuisines but our favourites still remain simple home made dishes.

I was looking for something when I came across the event 'Just for you' and I knew I had to post something. Since the event ends tomorrow I wanted to make something Manoj loves and yet simple. So here are two dishes Just for Manoj...

Tomato Rasam

Ingredients:

4 big ripe tomatoes

5cups water

1/4tsp turmeric powder

1heaping tsp coarsely ground pepper powder

2heaping tbs rasam powder, homemade or store bought (I use MTR)

1tbs grated jaggery or brown sugar

1-2tbs tamarind paste (according to taste)

1 sprig curry leaves

salt to taste

lots of coriander leaves, chopped

For the tempering - 

2tbs oil

1/2tsp mustard seeds

1/2tsp cumin seeds

2 dry red chillies

a big pinch asafoetida

2 green chillies, finely chopped

4 big garlic cloves, finely chopped

Method:

Soak the tamarind in some warm water. Squeeze and extract the pulp to get a thick paste and discard the seeds.

In the meantime pressure cook the tomatoes adding 1cup water, salt and turmeric powder for 2 whistles. 

Open the cooker after the pressure is completely released. Mash the tomatoes well, you can remove the skin if you want to, I like to leave it in.

Add 4cups water, tamarind paste, pepper powder, rasam powder, jaggery, curry leaves and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5mins. Remove from heat and stir in the coriander leaves.

For the tempering, heat oil and cumin and mustard seeds, when they splutter add the rest of the ingredients and fry till fragrant (do not brown the garlic). Pour over the rasam.

Potato Fry

Ingredients:

2 big potatoes

1tbs oil

1/2tsp cumin seeds

3-4green chillies, slit

1/8tsp turmeric powder

salt to taste

2-3tbs chopped coriander leaves

Method:

Boil the potatoes and cut into small cubes.

Heat oil and add cumin seeds. When they splutter add the potatoes, green chillies, turmeric and salt and toss to mix well. Fry till the potatoes brown a bit, for 3-5mins. Mix in the chopped coriander leaves and serve hot with rice.

*****************************************************

Sending this to Alka's event "Just for You".