Monday, February 2, 2009

Pineapple Rasam

Rasam, a soup like preparation made out of tamarind extracts and simmered with various spices such as cumin and pepper, with tomatoes adding a touch of sweetness, is a regular fare among southern Indian cuisine. Rasam is served over plain rice and is had with a dry curry on the side to make a complete meal. At traditional lunches/ dinners served on special events, like weddings, rasam is served as a second course and follows sambar, its thicker and heavier cousin. For those that do not want to have rasam with rice, this can be had just by itself, piping hot, as a light soup.

One variation of rasam uses pineapples in the rasam instead of tomatoes. Adding pineapple subtly changes the taste of the rasam giving it a more fruity and exotic touch.The concept of pineapple in rasam was first introduced to me by my aunt K. She made it when we visited her and I thought it was an interesting and delicious twist to the usual rasam and I started making my own variation of pineapple rasam since then. Try this if you are looking for something light and nourishing or if tomato rasam or milagu rasam have lost their charm and you are looking for something different :-)





Ingredients and Method to make Pineapple Rasam

1/3 cup Split red gram lentil (also known as Pigeon peas) (Tur dhal)
small piece of tamarind (size of a marble)
Extract about 1 3/4 cup of tamarind juice from the tamarind
salt to taste
1 1/2 to 2 tsp rasam powder (or according to taste) ( available in Indian groceries)
pinch of turmeric powder
1 1/2 cups of crushed pineapple with juice ( I used Dole crushed pineapple no sugar added)

1 1/2 tsp clarified butter (ghee)
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds

a dash of freshly ground black pepper (optional)

handful of cilantro cut fine for garnish

Pressure cook the red gram lentil with just enough water to cook (about 1/4 cup water approximately)

Or alternatively cook the red gram lentil on a stove top until very soft and mushy. Keep aside.

Soak the tamarind in microwave safe bowl with about 1/2 cup of water. Place the microwave safe bowl with tamarind and water in the microwave and heat on high for about 10 seconds. Press the tamarind with the fingers and extract the juice from it and pour into another bowl or container.Pour another half cup of water on the tamarind and repeat this process another couple of times. This yields approximately about 1 3/4 to 2 cups of tamarind juice. Discard the tamarind pulp and seeds.

Alternatively soak the tamarind in water for about 45 minutes and extract the juice two to three times without heating. Discard the tamarind pulp and seeds.

Place the tamarind water in a heavy bottomed pan and add salt, rasam powder, turmeric and let it boil. When it starts to boil, lower heat and add crushed pineapple with juice to this and let it simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes until the tamarind loses its rawness and the pineapple absorbs the spices a little.

Add the mushed soft lentil to this, add some more water according to your preference and consistency required and simmer for another minute or so.

Heat clarified butter in another pan, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds to it. When the mustard seeds and the cumin seeds start to splutter add the clarified butter with the mustard and cumin to the rasam.

Garnish with cilantro and serve hot on top of plain rice and cabbage curry on side or as a soup.

46 comments :

Cham said...

Love pineapple rasam and beautiful color u got!

Anonymous said...

lovely picture... somehow I cannot think of adding fruits to rasam... prejudiced... I know :) will try this when I learn to make good rasam ... I am hopeless at making rasam... can you post a recipe for making tomato rasam or milagu rasam?

anudivya said...

I love pineapples in my rasam, and have had them by the glasses during wedding feasts. Am yet to make it at home, but looks like I am the only one who likes the sweet and spicy taste here.

Laavanya said...

I'm a big fan of pineapple so I've always found this rasam enticing but haven't given it a shot so far.. hope to do it sometime.

Varsha Vipins said...

They look lovely Usha..sweet n spicy..:)

Sunshinemom said...

I have seen this on restaurant menus in Mysore I think! But never had it - I was skeptical of the fruity flavor, maybe I am prejudiced like Indhu!! But so many vouch for its taste here I think I might just try this some time soon:) Thanks for the recipe!

Unknown said...

looks very nice..i made this too recently..yet to post mine..

A_and_N said...

Tell me something. Won't the pineapples be too sweet? I haven't ever tasted it out of fear of ruining my feeble love for rasam!

Dershana said...

I love pineapple rasam, usha. In fact, anything with pineapple in it. But right now, older folks from home tell me to keep away from the fruit:-)

Shama Nagarajan said...

nice picture....lovely

sriharivatsan said...

I love pineapples and rasam with pineappes will be absolutely yummy!!Yours look awesome!!

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

nice.. rasam looks yumm. i love pineapples in anything.

Rajani said...

the only way i like cooked pineapple is in pachaddi, mainly cos i am too scared i'll have to drink up the whole thing if i dare make it at my place!

Mangala Bhat said...

wow ! pineaple is one my favs.rasam looks yummoo ...:) Thanks for the recipe

Finla said...

I love rasam ans this looks so yumm.
I can imagine eating this rasom with plain rice , delicious.

Trupti said...

Rassam looks very delicious. It must be tasted very tangy. I love tanggy food.

Jaishree Iyer said...

Rasam looks very delicious n yum. i always like this pineapple rasam.. love it:)

Navita (Gupta) Hakim said...

hey Usha, love the rasam...addition of pineapple is new to me.

also u can make those laddus without the gum, just add more ghee to it so that they hold together. :)

Pam said...

I like the addition of pineapple. It looks and sounds delicious.

CurryLeaf said...

love the rasam and the pineapple,thgh never tried .this one is too tempting for me to try this.

Anonymous said...

Have not made it yet at home..lovely and thanks for the awesome recipe

Unknown said...

Like the flavour of Pineapple rasam, its been ages since i tasted these. Nice thing to use canned pinapples for rasam. Looks very delicious Usha.

Anonymous said...

Hi Usha,

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

And you have wonderful recipes in your blog! Pineapple rasam is yummy. Have never tried it, but surely will. Thanks for sharing!

-Priya

Nithya Praveen said...

I love this recipe...wonderful one.I havent tried making this at home...relished it in India.Its very famous in Karnataka...slurp slurp...am hungry now:-(

Unknown said...

I luv this rasam...dont use rasam powder though..yum yum

Andhra Flavors said...

hey rasam with pineapple very interesting and inviting.

Vidhya said...

oh my god Usha. I love pineapple rasam. I make it once a week atleast. i am gonna make it tomorrow:)

Anonymous said...

Hi Usha ...
Its very innovative dish ...I just loved it ..The pic is too good ...I am going to try this soon ..thanks dear for this wonderful recipe
love
veena

Saritha said...

Thanks usha for leaving a comment on my blog.I never heard of rasam with pineapple.I make normal rasam with tomato or without tomato.I like to eat rasam but no one in my house eat.

gtyuk said...

Looks yummy, beautiful idea of making rassams with pineapple

AnuSriram said...

That looks delicious... Could sense the beautiful smell it gives..

Madhoo.S.Gargya said...

Thank you Usha for your comments in my blog and I loved ur pineapple rasam recipe...will definitely give it a try sometime.

Anonymous said...

I drink rasam like soup & cold:-)(when I am not using rice) weird ha? :-) I think this would be great drink for me in summer.

I love the laddus u made. perfect idea of breakfast.

Recipeswap said...

Thanks Usha its great to be back.Rasam looks wonderful.

Shri said...

Lovely rasam!It sounds delicious.got to try this.

phanitha said...

This sounds great..will try it out for sure...

Cynthia said...

I currently have some fresh pineapple, this would be a nice way to use some of it.

Navita (Gupta) Hakim said...

Thanks for the lovely comments Usha. :)

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Pineapple in rasam. Interesting one.That looks lovely.

Deepthi Shankar said...

I need to give it a try. everyone is soo much in love with this. gonna make it soon

Dibs said...

I think I started making beetroot rasam after seeing it on your blog. I was thinking about making pineapple rasam too, and here it is! :-)

Anonymous said...

I have immense confidence in this recipe. Since I love pineapple gojju I am sure I will like this too. Thanks for sharing.

Uj said...

I made these too from Jai & Bee's blog.. They taste simply great.. :)

Paru ... said...

I luv rasam and luv pineapple..I have tasted this in weddings..Great recipe a must try.

kathy gori said...

Can't wait to try it!

Renata said...

Great recipe. I finally tried pineapple rasam last night and my husband and I loved it. Thanks for posting this recipe, and for your helpful instructions.

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