Thippili Rasam: A Delicious and Healing South-Indian Soup Recipe
Discover the aromatic and healing power of thippili rasam, a South-Indian style soup made with two varieties of long pepper. Boost your health with this delicious and soothing recipe.
Servings: 4
Calories: 55kcal
Ingredients
Measurement Details: 1 cup = 240ml; 1tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp =5ml;
For the Spice Mix:
- 2 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp whole pepper
- 1 tsp long pepper
- 3 long pepper roots if you don't have this, use one more tsp of long pepper
- 1 tsp toor dal
- 30 to 40 curry leaves
Other Ingredients
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp tamarind paste
- 4 cups water divided
- 1 tomato chopped
- 2 tsp salt or to taste
- 4 tbsp cilantro chopped divided
- 1 tsp jaggery optional
To temper
- 1 tsp ghee
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
Instructions
- Soak cumin seeds, black pepper, arisi thippili, kandanthippili, toor dal, and curry leaves in water for 30–45 minutes.
- Drain and grind them into a smooth paste with turmeric powder, tamarind paste, and ¼ cup of water.
- In a heavy-bottomed vessel (like an eeya sombu or any sturdy pot), combine the ground paste with chopped tomatoes, salt, cilantro, and 1 cup of water (rinse the mixer jar to use up the residue).
- Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add three more cups of water, jaggery (if using), and additional cilantro. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until frothy.
- Heat one teaspoon of ghee or oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once the mustard seeds splutter, pour the tempering over the rasam.
- Serve the rasam hot as a soup or with rice, millet, or quinoa for a hearty meal. Pair it with legume stir fry, sundal, kootu, or dry curries for a balanced plate.
Video
Notes
- Using Tamarind Pulp: If you're using whole tamarind, soak a marble-sized piece in 1 cup of water for 30 minutes, extract the pulp, and add it to the spice mix.
- Garlic Option: Add two cloves of garlic to the spice mix while grinding for added flavor.
- Texture Preference: Grind the spice mix to your desired texture—smooth or coarse.
- Ingredient Substitution: If kandanthippili is unavailable, increase the amount of arisi thippili to 2 teaspoons.
Nutrition
Calories: 55kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 1183mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 618IU | Vitamin C: 155mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 3mg