Milagu (Pepper) Rasam

Ingredients:

1. Toor Dal - 2 tsp.
2. Coriander seeds - 1 tsp.
3. Pepper - 1 tsp.
4. Red chilly - 1
5. Jeera - 1 tsp.
6. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
7. Thick tamarind extract - 1/2 cup
8. Turmeric - a pinch
9. Tomato - 1 finely chopped
10. Salt - to taste
11. Ghee - 2-3 tsp.
12. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp.
13. Asafoetida powder - 1/4 tsp.
14. Coriander leaves - for garnishing.

Procedure:

1. Lightly roast pepper, red chilli, toor dal, coriander seeds, jeera and curry leaves in a tsp. of ghee and grind them to a powder. Do not roast them till they change colour. They should be very lightly roasted.
2. In a vessel, heat the tamarind pulp with tomatoes and a pinch of turmeric powder and allow to cook till the raw smell of tamarind is gone. 
3. Add the ground powder, salt and cook on medium flame for 5 minutes or till  the rasam starts boiling.
4. Add more water (around 250 ml) to dilute the rasam and bring to a boil.
5. In a small kadai, heat a tsp. of ghee, splutter mustard seeds. Add Hing powder to it and season the rasam with it.
6. Garnish with coriander leaves.
7. Serve with hot rice.

Milagu rasam is supposedly good for you when you catch a cold.