Kids Special - Garlic Rasam

When my DD gets cold or Cough or Fever, I make Garlic Rasam &  Par boiled Rice(Puzhungal Arisi). That’s the only taste she likes when she is sick and don't want to eat anything.                 
Par boiled rice is easily digestible and has more nutrients than Raw Rice(Pachaai Arisi)              
I cook the par boiled rice as whole or crack it down coarsely in a blender before cooking. Add little extra water so that rice will be cooked softly.             

Ingredients               
Tomato ------------------> 1, Sliced
Garlic --------------------> 15 Cloves, minced
Tamarind Water --------> ½ cup
Green Chilli --------------> ¼ inch
Pepper-Jeera Powder ---> 4 tsp
Methi Seeds Powder ----> ½ tsp
Turmeric -----------------> 1 tsp
Curry leaves Powder ----> 1 tsp
Salt -----------------------> A2Y

Procedure:                 

v  In a pan, add little oil; when it is hot add minced Garlic and fry for few minutes                    

v  Add Tomato, Green Chilli & turmeric; fry for a minutes                       

v  Now add all the powders(Pepper Jeera Powder, Methi Seed Powder, Curry leaves Powder)    

v  Pour Tamarind water & 1 cup of plain water                

v  Leave it in medium, when it starts boiling remove rasam for the stove.                    

v  Do the seasoning if needed. I didn't do it because she was sick.                   

v  Serve it with hot rice.              

Yesterday she was sick & didn't eat very well throughout the day. For dinner I made this Rasam & Vendaikkai Poriyal. Surprisingly she finished the dinner in 20 minutes, usually she takes nearly 45 minutes.                 

Ideas:            

ü  If the powders are not handy, just dry roast Pepper, Jeera, Methi & powder it freshly.          

ü  If you are making the powder freshly, include corriander seeds as well. It also has medicinal properties to relieve cold & cough.  

Tomato Kosthu

 It is an easy, but tasty combination for Idli or Dosai. I like it very much when my mom makes it with lots & lots of small onions.              

                       

Ingredients               

Small Onions---------------------> 2 cups Chopped

Tomato----------------------------> 4 Chopped

Carrot-----------------------------> 1 chopped fine (Optional)

Potato-----------------------------> 1 chopped fine (Optional)

Green Chillies--------------------> 2 Chopped fine

Salt--------------------------------> A2Y taste

Turmeric Powder----------------> ½ tsp

Sambhar Powder----------------> 1 tsp

Cilantro----------------------------> ½ cup chopped

                       

Procedure                  

·         Do the seasoning with Mustard Seeds in a Sauce Pan. My mom puts 1 tsp of Channa dal also in the seasoning. But I skip it.                

·         Add the onions, Tomatoes, Chillies, turmeric and fry until the onions are translucent.                      

·         Put in rest of the vegetables and saute for couple of minutes                       

·         Add 2 cups of water, Sambhar Powder and Salt                      

·         Once it starts boiling, close with the lid                      

·         Simmer it until the vegetables are cooked                 

·         Garnish with Cilantro                   

Tomato Rasam

Sometimes I make this quick Rasam in few minutes, which is fast & easy.

Ingredients:                                   

Tomato---------------------> 1 Smashed (either simply with hands or microwave it & then smash)

Tamarind Water----------> 1 cup

Rasam Powder------------> 5 tsp

Garlic------------------------> 4 Cloves, minced

Paruppu podi--------------> 2 tsp(Optional)

Turmeric--------------------> ½  tsp

Salt---------------------------> A2Y taste

Procedure:                        

·         Mix all of the above items in a deep Saucepan and check for salt & spice                              

·         Heat the saucepan, when you see bubbles coming up, switch off the stove. It is not necessary to allow the rasam to boil.      

·         Heat oil in a saute pan in medium heat, and add mustard seeds, Jeera(allow them to splutter), Red Chillies, Curry leaves                  

·         Pour the seasoning over Rasam                               

·         Garnish with Cilantro if desired                 

·         Serve with hot rice & Potato Kara curry hmm.. Yummy combinationJ                   

Ideas:                   

ü  U can replace Tamarind water with Lemon Juice to make the recipe even more easy.  But add it after switching off the stove.