TOMATO SAARU

 TOMATO SAARU

One of the most popular ingredients in our Indian vegetarian cooking has to be the Tomato. All over India, it is commonly made into curries, side dishes, and the like with different regions using them in their own ways. 

Tomatoes have numerous health benefits as detailed in this informative slide show from the WebMD website. 

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for dishes made with these health-filled tomatoes such as:-

• Nadan Tomato Curry
• Tamatar ki Kadhi 
• Thakkali Kulambu
• Tomato and Carrot Soup

Today's recipe is for Tomato Saaru from my Home State of Karnataka. It is an aromatic and tasty accompaniment to hot steamed rice. I have adapted this from this YouTube video from Bhat'nBhat. It is interesting to see Sudarshan Bhat explain the process in his own special, rustic way. 

Since we use pepper and spices to make this Saaru/rasam, it is most welcome during the rainy and winter months. 

Tip: in case the tomatoes are not sour enough, you may like to add a little tamarind juice. 

I am sure you will like this Tomato Saaru as much as we did. 

Ingredients:-

• Tomatoes, 3
• Jaggery, grated, 1 tbsp or to taste
• Ginger, 1/2 " piece
• Turmeric Powder, 1/2 tsp
• Curry Leaves, 1 sprig
• Coriander Leaves, 2 tbsp,
• Salt, to taste
• Coconut Oil, 1 tbsp

To Be Roasted & Ground To A Paste:- 

• Toor Dal, 4 tsp
• Byadgi Red Chillies, 4 
• Coriander Seeds, 1 tsp
• Cumin Seeds (Jeera), 1/2 tsp
• Pepper, 1 tsp
• Fenugreek Seeds (Methi), 1/4 tsp
• Asafoetida, (Hing), size of a pea 

For Seasoning:-

• Mustard Seeds, 1 tsp
• Dry Red Chillies, 1, broken into half
• Curry Leaves, a few 
• Coconut Oil, 1 tsp 

Method:-

Wash the tomatoes and keep aside

Heat 1 tsp of coconut oil in a pan and roast the toor dal on medium heat till it changes colour to a golden brown. Transfer this to a plate.

In the same pan, add 2 tsp of coconut oil and on medium heat roast all the remaining ingredients listed under "To Be Roasted & Ground To A Paste"

Roast till they give off a good aroma

Switch off the gas and add curry leaves and turmeric powder. Mix well. 

Allow it to cool and transfer to a small mixer jar

Grind this to a fine paste adding the required amount of water. Keep aside

Heat 3 cups of water in a vessel, add the tomatoes and cook till they get done

Next, puree the tomatoes in a mixer and add back to the vessel

Add salt and jaggery to taste, mix well

To this, crush and add the ginger 

Now add the ground masala and required amount of water to get the desired consistency for the Tomato Saaru

Bring this to boil, reduce the flame and let it simmer for a couple of minutes

Check for salt and add if required

Add the finely chopped coriander leaves 

Heat 1 tsp of coconut oil in a small pan

Add mustard seeds on medium heat and when they splutter add the red chilli and curry leaves and sauté for a few seconds

Pour this seasoning on to the Tomato Saaru

Serve Tomato Saaru with hot steamed rice