Goddu Saaru (Pepper-Tamarind Soup) Recipe

Saaru or Rasam simply means any juice derived from Tamrind or Tomato. Goddu Saaru is one of the many kinds of saaru. The soup is known as Rasam in Tamil Nadu and Saaru in Karnataka. Its fame also extended to Andhara as well as Kerela.

My mother used to make Goddu Saaru (we call it Goddu Saar), when one of us used to get sick with sour throat, cold and fever - the time, when our nose and tongue used to experience aversion towards food. And the next day, we used to be our usual self :-) So, lemme share this simple medicinal recipe with you.


Ingredients:

Hot n Sour Goddu Saaru

• Finely Chopped Tomato - 1 
• Toovar Dal (Green Pea or Pigeon Pea) -  1tbs
• Dry Red Chilies - 2-3 (as you prefer)
• Curry Leaves - 3-4
• Asafoetida (Hing) - 0.5tsp
• Freshly Chopped Coriander Leaves - 1/4cup
• Mustard Seeds (Rai) - 1.5tsps
• Oil - 1tbs
• Turmeric Powder (Haldi) - 1tsp
• Cumin Powder - 2tsp
• Pepper Powder -1tsp 
• Tamarind Pulp- lemon size
• Water - 2-3cups




• Salt to taste

Procedure: 

1. Soak the tamarind in the water for 20-30minutes
2. Squeeze and squash the tamarind pulp until it blends in the water. Then remove the veins and the seeds thus filtering it into a plain tamarind juice. If its your first, don't hesitate to use a new tea filter.
3. Heat oil a heavy bottomed pan 
4. Add mustard seeds, when it splutters add toovar dal, hing, dry red chilies and curry leaves
5. Once the toovar dal and the chili turns into golden color, add the tamarind juice 
6. Add tomato, turmeric powder, cumin powder, black pepper powder and salt to the above mixture
7. Boil the mixture for about 10-15minutes on medium-high flame
8. Garnish it with coriander leaves 

Serve the hot Goddu Saaru with steamed rice with a blob of ghee and deep fried  or roasted rice papad. 

Note: The tomato is optional and one can also use 2-3 pods Garlic or Lassun in the tamarind juice before cooking it.