MOONG DAL RASAM

Ingredients:Moong dal .. 1/4 cup
Tomato ....... 1 large
Tamarind .... lemon sized (soak in water)
Turmeric powder .. 1/4 tsp
Rasam powder .... 1/2 tsp
Jaggery ............. a small piece - or- little sugar
Salt .............. to taste
Coriander leaves ... handful
Tempering:
Mustard seeds ... 1 tsp
Asafoetida ......... a pinch
Curry leaves ...... few
Garlic ........... 1 tsp (crushed)
Oil ................. 1-2 tbsp
Method:1. Soak dal for at least one hour.
2. In a pressure cooker, boil dal with 1 & 1/2 or 2 cups water. Wash the whole tomato and put it in the cooker along with dal.
3. When you open the cooker, remove the tomato and peel it. The skin comes off easily. Blend in a mixie.
4. Heat a little oil in a pan and add the tempering ingredients. When they crackle, tip in the crushed garlic. Saute.
5. Now stir in the blended dal and tomato. Add the rasam powder, turmeric powder, salt and tamarind juice.(as per your taste) also add a little jaggery or sugar to balance the taste. Boil it to the consistency you like.
6. Finally put the freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Serve with plain rice.