Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Beetroot Rasam

I remember, as a child I used to love the Chokanna Cheera (Red Thotakora/ Red Spinach) thoran with rice. The colour of the rice would become bright pink/ purple (not 'red' - one of those minomers - the vegetable itself not being 'red'!) and sometimes the tongue too would be pink after eating it. I love that colour, and the same effect is achieved with Beetroot.

At home, Amma always uses beetroot in vegetable soup, mixed vegetable curry, vegetable korma, vegetable biriyani etc., but never did beetroot get the honour of ruling the dish. Let me confess, I learnt to make beetroot rasam from another of my roommates (and yes, during the good old days).

Unfortunately, the pictures that I took of the Beetroot Rasam did not turn out well. Here are two that turned out better than all the pictures I clicked:




You will need:

Beetroot - peeled and grated - 3 cups

Green chilly - sliced - 1

Ginger - peeled and pounded - 1 tbsp

Water - 3 cups

Tamarind paste/ Tomato puree/ Lime juice - 1/2 cup

Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp

Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp

Rasam powder - 1 tsp

Pepper - 1/4 tsp

Coriander leaves - chopped (optional)

Curry leaves - 2 strands

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Hing/ Asafeotida - 1/4 tsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Salt - to taste

Method:

  • In a heavy-bottomed pan, boil the grated beetroot with water and salt for 10-15 minutes on low flame, until the water level is reduced to half
  • Heat oil in pan, temper the mustard seeds and curry leaves
  • Add ginger, green chillies, and on low flame, roast the powders for a minute
  • Add the tamaring paste or tomato puree and stir well for 5 minutes. If using lime juice, please do not add now
  • Mix this well with the boiling beetroot, cover the vessel and boil for another 5 minutes on low flame
  • If using lime juice, add the lime juice after removing the dish from the stove and mix well
  • Garnish with coriander leaves

Serve with rice

28 comments:

Indranee Batabyal said...

Hello Shreya, thanks for your visit and comment on my blog!I haven't heard about this beetroot rasam(I'm also not particularly fond of this vegetable), but I guess this one's going to taste good. Thanks for sharing:)

FH said...

I have posted Beet Rasam too at FH, my fave dish of all! Beautiful recipe,thank you!:)

Shreya said...

Hi Indranee, you are always welcome. Thanks again.
Asha, Thanks to you too:-)

FH said...

Shreya, here it is, my Beet rasam you asked. I posted it last year!:)

http://foodieshope.blogspot.com/2006/08/beetroot-
rasam-bangalore-style.html

Sum Raj said...

woo..looks great...very creative dish..

Cham said...

Hi Sreya,
Thanks 4 ur visit! U ve a beautiful blog! Beetroot rasam never had even thought, very creative and looks so good :)

Unknown said...

Hi Shreya..glad u liked my recipes..This rasam is new to me..Looks healhty too..

Laavanya said...

Hi Shreya, first time in your blog.. very interesting recipes. The beetroot rasam is so novel and nice looking.

Hope you get a chance to try to the kadai dosa. let me know how you like it.

Clumbsy Cookie said...

Oh my such a beautil color!

Uma said...

wow, lovely color! beetroot rasam looks so delicious and healthy! Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog.

Shreya said...

Asha, thanks so much for the link. I went through it, and have left a comment on the post. Definitely, your version is the traditional recipe of rasam and more healthier with the toor dal:-)

Suma, Cham, Divya, Uma, thanks so much for the nice comments:-)

Laavanya, I will surely try the dish and let you know how it turns out:-)

Indranee Batabyal said...

Thanks Shreya!Looking forward to more yummy recipes from you:)

Veda said...

hey shreya...thanks for stopping by my blog...and the wishes....and also introducing me to urs....

i wish i had seen ur blog ydy....i was wondering what 2 do with beets apart from the usual ones...this one is interesting....next time i buy beets ....i m coming 2 ur blog again for this wonderful recipe...

regards,
Veda

Deepthi Shankar said...

Hey .. First time at your blog .. never know we could make rasam out of beetroot .. looks interesting

Sujatha said...

This sounds so different and Unique!! Very creative..

Andhra Flavors said...

very creative and healthy dish shreya.

amna said...

TH loves rasam and i suck at making any kind but pepper rasam, which is his least fave. will surely try this :) if nothing, atleast for the color!

Swati said...

Didn't know one can make a rasam with beetroot.. Lovely color...

Madhavi said...

Very nice recipe Shreya, looks goood!!!

Bharathy said...

Beetroot is not my family favourite..but the creativity of turning it to a rasam would truly be appreciable :)

ST said...

WOW.....Looks great and healthy what a unique dish...

Shreya said...

Hi Veda, Vegetable Platter, Sujatha, Nags, Andhra Flavors, Swati, Madhavi, Bharathy and Sireesha, thanks so much :-)

Jeff said...

I owe you one. I planted about 20 beets and when they come up had little clue what I was actually going to do with them. Now I have a plan!

Beyond Curries said...

I have also posted beet rasam and usili today. I used the beet cooked water to prepare the rasam and used the beet for preparing usal. This method sounds good too.

Dibs said...

How novel! Will surely try!

Subhie Arun said...

hey ..beetroot rasam sumthin new to me...look yummy..will try soon and u have wonderful recipes here

Aparna said...

Hi Shreya, can i cook the beat and mash it and use it for making the whole procedure. Please respond

Anonymous said...

Hi Lakshmi, I'm sure you can make it that way. I have always used grated beets. Please do try and let me know how u like the texture and consistency. Thanks, Shreya