TOMATO SARU

 

TOMATO SARU

Saru is a simple dish which is almost prepared daily in south India. In summer season we feel like eating simple ‘Thilisaru” saru and rice. Thilisaru” is the top watery portion of the dish. In winter we like to drink “Bisi –bisi” (Hot-hot) saru and little ghee.

Saru is prepared with Tuvar dhal, Green gram dhal, Green gram, Horse gram; Avare kai (hyacinth beans).We can say it is also a type of clear soup of South India!

The one I am going to explain now is Tomato saru which is prepared with tuvar dhal and tomato.

I always want to finish cooking fast so that I can pursue my other hobbies. I take maximum advantage of pressure cooker, microwave to cook vegetables and electric kettle to heat water.

I am going to explain my method of preparing saru very fast.

Ingredients

Tour dhal: ½ cup

Sarina pudi (Rasam powder): 3 Tea spoons

Tamarind: I lemon size or tamarind paste 2 teaspoons

Salt: To taste

Chopped coriander leaves: 2 table spoons

Turmeric powder: ½ teaspoon

Tomato: 4 numbers

Oil: 1 tea spoon

For seasoning

Ghee: 1 teaspoon

Mustard: ½ teaspoon

Cumin seeds: ½ teaspoon

Asafoetida: One big pinch

Curry leaves: 2 sprigs

Method

Wash and cut tomatoes in to big pieces

Wash tamarind well and place it in a tumbler and cover it with hot water.

Take tour dhal in a pressure cooker and wash well. Add 2½ cups of hot water and boil on a high flame for 1 or 2 minutes. You see froth forming on the top. Remove it with the help of a ladle. This avoids the water spillage from the pressure cooker. Add turmeric powder, 1 tea spoon of ghee (or refined oil).Add tomato pieces. Place the tumbler with tamarind in the cooker so that no dhal is under it. Cover the cooker with its lid. Place the cooker weight on the vent as soon as the steam gushes out. Cook on high flame. Reduce the fame as soon as you hear the whistle of the cooker. Cook for 5 minutes. And switch off the stove. Open the cooker when the pressure is completely released. Transfer the tamarind to a dish and extract the pulp. Mash dhal and tomatoes well.

COOKED DHAL,TAMRIND AND TOMATOES

TOMATOES FOR MASHING

Add salt and tamarind pulp. Boil for two minutes. 

SARU BOILING

We need not boil for long as the tamarind is already cooked!

Heat Ghee in a pan. Add mustard, cumin and asafoetida. When crackling of seeds stop add curry leaves. Pour it over the saru. Add coriander leaves. Saru is ready!