Simple Cooking -- Tomato Rasam

Ok, I'll be the first to admit that I'm not much of a fan for tomatoes. There's very few things I'll eat tomatoes in it. At the same time, I love rasam, but I always have to make sure I don't get any tomatoes in my rice. So, here's what I do....I use tomato paste, doesn't make a difference in the taste!!!

INGREDIENTS

2 big spoonfuls Tomato Paste -- I used the regular kind from Hunt's, but any kind will do
3 cups Water
3 to 4 Curry Leaves
1 tsp Tamarind Juice
2 to 3 tsp Rasam Powder
a pinch Turmeric
Salt
Red Chilli Powder
Oil

TADKA

Mustard Seeds
Jeera
Red Chillies
Hing

PROCEDURE

In a pan, heat oil and add in the tadka ingredients, when the mustard seeds splutter, add in the curry leaves, tomato paste and water. Mix well until there are no lumps.
Add in tamarind juice, turmeric, salt, red chilli powder, and rasam masala.
Let the rasam come to a boil and you are ready to serve! Garnish with a little bit of coriander leaves if you'd like.
Tastes great with rice.

NOTE: I buy ready made tamarind paste from the Indian store and just mix it with a little bit of water, until it is runny. Otherwise, you can use fresh tamarind and soak it in water for a little bit and sqeeze out the juice.