Tomato saaru

The tomato saaru is probably the all time favorite traditional food of everyone I presume :) It is spicy, light, not very complicated to prepare. Served along with white rice and another palya (Fry) is the tastiest combination :)

Tomato saaru are made in different varieties of ways. The one which is made at my home involves the use of a ground powder made of dry red chillies, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, methi seeds (Menthe in Kannada, Fenugreek in English) and asafoetida (Hingu in Kannada). We DO NOT put any seasoning / tempering for this saaru.

The rcipe goes as follows.

Ingredients (For 6 - 7 servings)

1 large Red tomatoes (Chopped)
1/2 to 1/3 cup of thoor dal (Thogari bele)
Lemon sized ball of tamarind
½ tsp of turmeric powder
Lemon sized ball of jaggery
7-8 tsp of saaru podwer
½ cup of coriander leaves (Chopped)
2 - 3 cups of water
Salt to taste

To make saaru powder (makes 8-9 tea spoons)

8 dry red chillies
1 handful of coriander seeds
2 tsp of cumin seeds
1 tsp of fenugreek seeds (Methi seeds, Menthe seeds)
3 pinches of asafoetida

Method to make saaru powder

Put about 1 tsp of cooking oil in a vessel and let it heat. Then add all the ingredients mentioned for making saaru pwder in the vessel and roast it for 5 - 10 minutes on a medium flame. Take care that it doesn't burn.

After that remove from flame and let it cool. After it is cooled mix all the ingredients in a mixie and make it into a fine podwer. Remember that the mixie should be very very dry. No moisture content should be there.

The saaru podwer is ready.

Method to make saaru

Put about 1 cup of water to the toor dal and boil it in a pressure cooker (Two whistles are enough)

Soak the tamarind in about half cup of water and keep aside for about an hour.

In a vessel squeeze the tamarind pulp and add the remaining water. Make sure you remove all the pulp and don't waste any. You can again add water and remove the pulp thoroughly.

Then put the chopped tomatoes.

Add the turmeric and salt.

Add the jaggery (Amount is shown in the picture below)

Now put this vessel on a medium flame and boil the mixture.

After it boils add the boiled toor dal (thogari bele) and add 2 cups of water and let it boil. You can add more water if required.

After it coms to a boil add 7-8 tsp of saaru powder and stir well.

Let it come to a boil and then add coriander leaves for garnishing :)

Serve hot with white rice and any palya (Fry)

You should try this recipe for lunch today !!

Do take care till I write :) 

Happy cooking :) :)