Rasam

Ingredients

2 Tomatoes (medium sized,sliced)
2 Green Chili
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
A small lemon sized Tamarind
1/2 tsp crushed pepper or to taste
2 tsp Rasam powder(I used Eastern Rasam Powder)
1/4 tsp asafoetida powder /kayam
1 tsp mustard seeds
4 medium cloves of  garlic
2 springs curry leaves
2 Dry red chilies
Coriander leaves for garnishing
Oil/salt
salt

Directions

Soak the tamarind in warm water (1cup) and extract its juice. Crush garlic and pepper and keep it aside.Slice tomatoes and add to the cooker with 2 cups water, green chilies, turmeric powder and salt ,and cook for 2 whistles. Now add tamarind water. when it starts boiling, add pepper powder, asafoetida/kayam and rasam powder and boil for another 5-10mins.Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds. When it crackles, add dry red chillies followed by crushing garlic and curry leaves saute till it becomes light brown in color. Pour it over the rasam.Garnish with coriander leaves and Serve hot with rice.

Broccoli Soup

Ingredients

125gm Broccoli
1 Onion (large sized)
1/2 litre Milk
2.5 tbsp Butter
1 tbsp Maida/All-purpose flour (heaped)
1 tsp Pepper powder
3/4-1 cup Water
Salt

Directions

Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and saute till translucent. Add the broccoli and saute a little. Add 1/4 cup milk , 3/4 cup and salt. Allow the broccoli to cook. Grind to a paste (not very fine paste).Heat the remaining butter and add flour to it and saute for 30 secs.Add the milk and Pepper. Stir with a whisk to avoid lumps.Once the milk starts boil add the brocdoli paste. Heat/boil till desired consistency.Add salt and pepper to taste.Garnish with a small microwaved floret of broccoli.

Note:

If you grind the broccoli to a fine paste , then the colour will be green or else the colour remains light cream.