Pepper rasam, otherwise also called Milagu rasam in Tamil. A simple, everyday recipe of Tamil cuisine. Made with black peppers and garlic, which is believed to have tones of medicinal value.
Tamil cuisines are of a four-course meal. We eat a portion of rice with dal, followed by sambar. Then rasam will be served, and after, the curd will be done for the rice.
Pepper rasam is very delicious and best suited to serve on rainy days.
I sip warm pepper rasam. Every sip makes me feel comfortable and cozy.
Every family has their rasam recipe, and I'm sharing my family's recipe here with a slight change. Generally, we chop the tomatoes and mash them with the hand while making rasam.
But the tomatoes we get here are not like the Indian country tomatoes. Plum tomatoes have thicker flesh and do not blend like the Indian tomatoes. So I grind them along with spices, making it easier to prepare any Indian side dish recipes.
If you are searching for other rasam recipes, you may also check:
Authentic rasam
Pineapple rasam
tomato rasam
Grinding the tomatoes will not change the taste of pepper rasam.
If you are using Roma tomatoes or any other soft, pulpy varieties, you may mash them. Add it along with tamarind extract.
Regarding the asafoetida, I always use a solid one. I feel the asafoetida powder's flavor and taste do not last long.
Pro tips for pepper rasam:
- Pepper and garlic are the main ingredients in this recipe.
- The taste of the rasam solely depends on the tamarind.
- Many varieties of Tamarind are available in the market and vary with their sourness. Adjust the sourness with water and salt. If the tamarind is sour, add the necessary water and salt to balance it.
- Generally, tomatoes will be chopped and added to rasam. But the plum tomatoes are harder to get cooked and will not get blended to rasam. So I used to grind them while making them.
- I have added a small tiny bit of asafoetida. Using powdered asafoetida, you may substitute with half a teaspoon into this recipe.
How to make Pepper Rasam:
Soak a small lemon-sized tamarind in water for about half an hour. Squeeze the pulp and extract. Keep it aside.
In a mixing jar, 3 teaspoons of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds, 2-3 garlic cloves, and tomatoes. And grind them coarsely, keep them aside.
Heat a teaspoon of cooking oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, followed by urad dal. And then add asafoetida. Allow mustard seeds to splutter.
Add the ground mixture to the pan and saute for a minute until the mixture becomes thick.
Add tamarind extract. Add 1 teaspoon of salt or as required. Test the sourness of the mixture; if it is too sour, add water and salt to balance.
Add turmeric powder and bring the mixture to a boil.
Add chopped coriander leaves when you start seeing bubbles on the surface. Switch off the flame and cover it with the lid.
Serve pepper rasam with white rice along with Chettinad shrimp masala, Madurai chicken curry, or Egg thokku.
If you are looking for other pepper recipes,
Printable recipe card
Pepper rasam
Ingredients
For prepping
- 1 lime sized tamarind about 1.5 inches in diameter
- 3 cups water
- 3 teaspoon whole black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tomato ripen
For making
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon black mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon urad dal /skinless black gram
- 1 pinch asafoetida
- 1 teaspoon salt or as required
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves /cilatro-chopped
Instructions
For prepping
- Soak a small lime sized tamarind(about 1.5 inch in diameter) in water for about half an hour.
- Squeeze the pulp and extract the juice. Set aside the tamarind extract, and discard the impurities. And set aside.
- In a blender, add black pepper, cumin seeds, garlic cloves, tomato. And grind them coarsely, keep it aside.
For making
- Over medium heat, place a pan. And add vegetable oil, black mustard seeds, urad dal, and asafoetida.
- Allow the mustard seeds to splutter.
- Now add the ground mixture to the pan and saute for a minute until the mixture becomes thick.
- Add tamarind extract, salt, turmeric powder, chopped coriander leaves. And bring it to boil.
- When you start seeing bubbles and frothy on the top. Switch off the heat and cover it with the lid.
- Serve pepper rasam with white rice.
Nutrition
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Anonymous
This pepper rasam, turned out nice and rich. My husband loved this, your recipes comes handy when I cannot reach my mom.