Spiced Tomato Soup {Rasam}

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1/4 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• pinch of turmeric powder
• 1/4 cup small yellow lentils, soaked
• 4 tomatoes, quartered
• 2 fresh chilies, slitted
• 8 to 10 curry leaves
• 1/2 tsp garlic paste
• 1/4 tsp ginger paste
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp tamarind juice/lemon juice
• 1.5 cup vegetable broth
• 1 cup hot water

Directions:

1. Heat a medium saucepan. Once heated, add cooking oil.
2. Sprinkle in mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Wait until mustard seeds sputter before adding finely chopped onion.
3. Fry onions until fragrant for about 2 minutes before adding pinch of turmeric powder, soaked yellow lentils, tomatoes, chilies, curry leaves, ginger and garlic paste.
4. Cook everything for about 5 to 7 minutes or until tomatoes are soften.
5. Add salt, tamarind juice, vegetable broth and water. Simmer on low & covered for 20 minutes.
6. Serve hot in a mug for sipping or over rice with some greens and pan-fried seafood.