Vegetarian Bee Hoon with Dumpling Soup | Easy Singapore-Style Noodle Soup Recipe

VEGETARIAN BEE HOON WITH DUMPLING SOUP

A Comforting One-Pot Meal for Rainy Days, Busy Evenings, and Recovery Meals.

Living in Singapore has introduced me to many dishes that were completely unfamiliar to me when I first arrived. Having grown up with the flavours of South Indian cooking, noodle soups and dumplings were not something I naturally gravitated towards. Over the years, however, I gradually learnt to appreciate the subtle flavours and comforting nature of many Asian soups and noodle dishes.

One dish that I particularly enjoy is Vegetarian Bee Hoon with Dumpling Soup.

There is something incredibly satisfying about a steaming bowl filled with delicate rice vermicelli, tender vegetables, flavourful dumplings, and a fragrant broth infused with ginger, garlic, and sesame oil. It is simple food, yet deeply comforting.

This is the kind of meal I find myself reaching for when I have a cold, a sore throat, or simply need something warm and nourishing. The soft Bee Hoon noodles are easy to eat, the broth is soothing, and the vegetables and dumplings transform it into a wholesome one-pot meal. It is filling without feeling heavy and satisfying without being rich.

What I particularly love about this recipe is its flexibility. You can use whatever vegetables happen to be sitting in your refrigerator, making it both practical and economical. It is also a wonderful way to create a nourishing meal in under thirty minutes without compromising on flavour.

Whether enjoyed on a rainy evening, served as a quick weeknight dinner, or prepared when someone in the family is feeling under the weather, this Vegetarian Bee Hoon with Dumpling Soup never fails to bring warmth and comfort to the table.

Simple, nourishing, and full of flavour, it is truly a meal that feels like a warm hug in a bowl.

Ingredients

For the Soup

Bee Hoon (Rice Vermicelli) – 200 g

Vegetarian Dumplings – 12 to 15

Vegetable Stock – 1 litre

Garlic – 3 cloves, minced

Ginger – 1-inch piece, thinly sliced

Sesame Oil – 1 tbsp

Light Soy Sauce – 1 tbsp

White Pepper – to taste

For the Vegetables

Baby Bok Choy or other leafy greens – 100 g

Carrot – ½, thinly sliced

Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms – 4 to 5, sliced

Bean Sprouts – a handful

Method

Prepare the Noodles

Soak the Bee Hoon in room-temperature water for 15 to 20 minutes until softened.

Drain thoroughly and keep aside.

🚫Avoid using hot water as it may make the noodles overly soft and mushy.

Prepare the Broth

Heat the sesame oil in a large pot over medium heat.

Add the minced garlic and sliced ginger.

Sauté gently for about a minute until fragrant.

Pour in the vegetable stock.

Add the light soy sauce and white pepper.

Bring the broth to a gentle boil.

Cook the Dumplings and Vegetables

Carefully add the vegetarian dumplings to the simmering broth.

Add the sliced carrots and shiitake mushrooms.

Allow everything to simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until the dumplings are cooked and begin floating to the surface.

✨️Finish the Soup🍜

Add the bok choy and bean sprouts.

Gently add the softened Bee Hoon.

Cook for another 2 minutes until the vegetables are tender and the noodles are heated through.

Taste and adjust the seasoning if required.

Serve immediately while piping hot.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this comforting soup as a complete meal on its own.

For extra flavour, garnish with:

• Chopped spring onions

• Crispy fried shallots

• A drizzle of chilli oil

• Fresh coriander leaves

• Toasted sesame seeds

The soup also pairs beautifully with Asian-style pickles or an extra side of steamed dumplings.

Variations

• Add tofu puffs or firm tofu cubes for extra protein.

• Include baby corn, snow peas, spinach, napa cabbage, broccoli, or any vegetables you have on hand.

• Stir in a spoonful of miso paste for a deeper umami flavour.

• Add a splash of unsweetened soy milk for a slightly richer broth.

• Use homemade vegetable dumplings for special occasions.

Is It Vegan?

Yes, provided the dumplings and vegetable stock used are entirely plant-based.

Is It Gluten-Free?

Bee Hoon is naturally gluten-free as it is made from rice.

However, ensure that:

• The soy sauce used is gluten-free.

• The dumplings are made without wheat wrappers if gluten-free preparation is required.

#BeeHoonSoup #VegetarianRecipes #AsianComfortFood #SingaporeFood #NoodleSoup #OnePotMeal #SukanyasMusings

Lemon Coriander Soup With Tofu & Vegetables | Light Asian Clear Soup Recipe

Lemon Coriander Soup With Tofu & Vegetables

A light, refreshing, and comforting bowl filled with delicate flavours

There are certain dishes that quietly become a part of our family memories without us even realizing it. 

This Lemon Coriander Soup is one such recipe in our home.

My husband Yo is extremely fond of Lemon Coriander Soup. Whenever we visited one of our favourite restaurants, this was almost always his first order. That steaming hot bowl of clear soup infused with fresh coriander, delicate vegetables, and the bright freshness of lemon would instantly make the meal feel comforting and complete.

Over time, after tasting it so many times outside, I finally told myself, “Why not learn to make this at home?” After a few attempts in my kitchen, this homemade version slowly became one of our family favourites.

Today, this soup has become one of those comforting recipes I turn to whenever we crave something light, soothing, wholesome, and flavourful.

This clear soup is filled with tofu, broccoli, carrots, cabbage, and fresh coriander, making it nourishing without feeling heavy. The lemon adds a refreshing brightness while the coriander gives the soup its signature aroma and warmth.

Lemon Coriander Soup is especially popular in Indo-Chinese cuisine across India and Singapore. While it may not belong to one single traditional cuisine, it draws inspiration from Asian-style clear soups that celebrate freshness, light broths, vegetables, herbs, and balanced flavours rather than rich cream-based textures.

What makes this soup special is its simplicity. It is soothing during rainy evenings, comforting when you are tired, light enough for warm weather, and perfect when you want something gentle yet satisfying.

Ingredients

Garlic – 6 to 8 cloves, finely chopped

Ginger – 1 inch piece, finely chopped

Carrot – 1 small, thinly sliced

Broccoli – 1 cup small florets

Cabbage – 1 cup shredded

Tofu – 1 cup cubed

Fresh coriander leaves – ½ cup finely chopped

Spring onion greens – 2 tablespoons chopped

Vegetable stock or water – 4 cups

Soy sauce – 1 teaspoon

Pepper powder – 1 teaspoon

Salt – as needed

Cornflour – 1 teaspoon mixed with 2 tablespoons water (optional for slight thickness)

Lemon juice – 1½ to 2 tablespoons

Oil – 1 teaspoon

Method

Heat oil in a pan or wok.

Add the chopped garlic and ginger and sauté gently until aromatic.

Add the carrots, broccoli, and cabbage. Stir fry lightly for a couple of minutes while retaining the crunch of the vegetables.

Pour in the vegetable stock or water and allow the soup to simmer gently for about 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the tofu cubes carefully.

Season with soy sauce, salt, and pepper powder.

If you prefer the soup slightly thicker, add the cornflour slurry and stir continuously for a minute until lightly thickened.

Add most of the chopped coriander leaves and allow the flavours to infuse gently into the soup.

Switch off the flame and finally add the lemon juice. Adding the lemon at the end helps preserve its fresh refreshing flavour.

Garnish with the remaining coriander leaves and spring onion greens. Serve piping hot.

There is something incredibly soothing about the freshness of coriander paired with the gentle tanginess of lemon. 

Every spoonful feels light, nourishing, and comforting without ever feeling heavy. This is one of those humble soups that quietly warms both the body and the soul.

Variations

• You can add any other vegetables of your choice like mushrooms, sweet corn, beans, bok choy, or baby spinach depending on what is available at home.

• You can skip the tofu entirely if you prefer a lighter vegetable clear soup.

• Paneer cubes can also be added for a richer and more filling variation.

• The above recipe is completely suitable for vegans when prepared with tofu.

• For Jains, the garlic can be omitted and the soup still tastes wonderfully fresh, light, and comforting thanks to the beautiful flavours of coriander, lemon, and vegetables.

#LemonCorianderSoup #ClearSoup #AsianSoup #TofuSoup #HealthySoup #VegetableSoup #SukanyasMusings

BEST VEGETARIAN THAI GREEN CURRY RECIPE (Creamy, aunthentic & easy)

“Cooked for lunch… gone in minutes!” 😄🍃

That’s exactly what happened with this creamy Vegetarian Thai Green Curry, every last spoonful polished off!

There’s something irresistible about Thai food, the burst of aromas, the riot of colours, and the balance of flavours. And this dish brings it all together beautifully. 💚

What makes it truly special? A fresh, homemade green curry paste👆, packed with herbs, roasted spices, and bold flavours that elevate the entire dish.

Simmered in rich coconut milk and loaded with vibrant vegetables like broccoli, baby corn, zucchini, carrots, and peppers, this curry is as nourishing as it is indulgent.

Traditionally paired with jasmine rice, but at home, we absolutely love it with steaming hot basmati rice… and honestly, it’s pure comfort in a bowl! 🍚✨.

Every bite is creamy, fragrant, slightly spicy, and deeply satisfying — proof that wholesome food can also feel indulgent. 🌱💚

🌿 Ingredients

Homemade Paste:

Shallots/Onion – 7

Galangal (or Ginger) – 2 inch

Ginger – 2 inch

Green Chillies – 2–3

Lemongrass Stalks – 2

Coriander Leaves – 1 handful

Basil Leaves – ¼ cup

Kaffir Lime Leaves – 2–3

Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp

Coriander Seeds – 1½ tbsp

Peppercorns – ¼ tsp

Cloves – 2–3

Vinegar – 1 tsp

Curry Base:

Coconut Milk (full-fat) – 400 ml

Vegetables:

Broccoli – 1 cup

Cauliflower – 1 cup

Baby Corn – ½ cup

Carrots – 1 cup

Zucchini – 1 cup

Bell Peppers – 1 cup (any colour you have!)

Tofu:

Tofu - 1 block 

Flavorings:

Oil – 1–2 tbsp

Soy Sauce – 1 tbsp

Green Chilli Sauce – 1 tbsp

Brown Sugar – ½ tsp

Salt – to taste

Lime Juice – to taste

Method Thai Green Curry Paste🌱☘️☘️

Dry roast coriander and cumin seeds on low heat until aromatic. Transfer to a mortar and pestle, add white peppercorns, and crush into a coarse powder.

Add the remaining ingredients and pound into a smooth, fragrant paste (or use a mixer grinder for convenience).

Store the paste in the refrigerator for a couple of days or freeze for up to 2–3 months.

Use half for this recipe and save the rest for a quick, flavourful curry anytime.

Method Thai Green Curry 🍲

Heat 200 ml coconut milk in a pan and boil for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.

Add the green Thai curry paste and cook on medium heat for 4–5 minutes until the colour deepens and the oil separates.

Pour in the remaining coconut milk, stir well, and bring to a gentle boil.

Add baby corn and cook for 2–3 minutes.

Add remaining vegetables, brown sugar, and salt. Cook for a few minutes, adjusting consistency with veg stock if needed.

Finish with kaffir lime leaves, Thai basil, and red chillies. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.

Serve hot with steamed rice.

#ThaiGreenCurry #VegetarianRecipes #HomemadeGoodness #HealthyEating #ComfortFood #PlantBasedMeals #FoodLovers #HomeCooking #AsianFlavours #CurryLove #VegetableLoaded #CleanEating #FoodInspiration #InstaFood #FoodPhotography #DesiFoodie #SingaporeFoodies #EatHealthyLiveHappy #FromMyKitchen #SoulFood

Thai Broccoli Soup with Coconut Milk | Creamy Vegan Thai-Inspired Soup Recipe

THAI BROCCOLI SOUP WITH COCONUT MILK 

(A Creamy Bowl of Thai-Inspired Comfort)

Broccoli is often associated with salads, stir-fries, or healthy side dishes, but when combined with creamy coconut milk and fragrant Thai herbs, it becomes an entirely different experience. The result is a velvety, aromatic soup that is both nourishing and satisfying.

Thai cuisine has some beautiful vegetarian dishes, or dishes that can easily be adapted into vegetarian and vegan versions without compromising much on flavour. 

One such recipe I had earlier shared in my blog was Som Tam, the refreshing Thai Green Papaya Salad, (Click on the hyperlink for the recipe)

What I particularly love about Thai cuisine is its simplicity. A handful of fresh herbs, a few sauces, some chillies, and suddenly a dish comes alive with layers of flavour that gently tickle the palate. Thai cooking beautifully balances sweet, salty, sour, spicy, and creamy notes, with coconut milk playing a starring role in many of its curries, desserts, and soups.

My trips to various parts of Thailand, coupled with having friends living there who guided us towards authentic local food experiences, have helped me develop a deep appreciation for this vibrant cuisine.

This Thai Broccoli Soup brings together the goodness of broccoli, the richness of coconut milk, and the wonderful aromas of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, coriander, ginger, and chilli. It is light enough for lunch, comforting enough for a rainy evening, and elegant enough to serve as a starter when entertaining guests.

I particularly enjoy making this soup on rainy days when I want something wholesome, warming, and packed with goodness without spending hours in the kitchen.

Today, I'm sharing this delicious Thai Broccoli Soup with Coconut Milk. Do give it a try. The creaminess of coconut milk pairs beautifully with broccoli, creating a light yet luxurious soup that can be enjoyed as a starter, light lunch, or comforting dinner.

Why You'll Love This Soup

• Rich and creamy without using dairy cream
• Naturally vegetarian and vegan-friendly
• Packed with nutrients from broccoli
• Light enough for lunch yet satisfying enough for dinner
• Easy to prepare with simple ingredients 

Ingredients (Serves 4)

Broccoli - 1/2 kg
Rice bran Oil - 2 tablespoons
Garlic cloves - 3-4
Ginger - 1 tbsp pounded
Green chilli padi - 1 pounded with the ginger
Shallots - 2 chopped fine
Lemon grass - 2 tbsps chopped
Kefir lime leaves - 4 (optional)
Salt as per taste
Coconut cream - 1/2 tin (1 tin = 13.66 oz) of Thai unsweetened Coconut cream
Spinach - 3-4 leaves (For colour only)
Coriander leaves - 5-6 Tbsps (For Colour and Garnish)
Lime juice - 2-3 tbsps
Vegetarian Fish sauce - 1- 2 tsps (optional)
Croutons for Garnish

Method

Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan/wok.
Add the shallots, garlic, ginger, and chilly.
Sauté until the shallot is transparent. Add lemongrass and sauté 1-2 more minutes.
Add 1 cup water, kefir lime leaves, salt and broccoli and bring to boil – it’s OK if the broccoli isn’t all submerged, it will still steam.
Bring this to a boil, cover, lower heat and gently simmer 10-12 minutes, or until broccoli is tender.
Once tender, turn the heat off, uncover.
At this point, you could add a handful of spinach (Optional) to give the soup a more vibrant green colour.
Add 4-5 tbsps of coriander (save the rest for garnish). 

Let this cool down and blend until very smooth using a blender.

⚠(Caution - Blending a blender full of hot ingredients will explode!)

Place the smooth blended soup back in the pot/wok, and let it simmer over low heat.
Stir in the coconut milk, you can start with half a can and add more to taste. 

After adding the coconut milk do not boil the soup. 

Just a simmer would do.
Add lime juice, and optional fish sauce (Vegetarians can use the Vegetarian Fish sauce) to taste.
Serve hot in a bowl, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and croutons.
You can add a dash of coconut cream as garnish too. I didn't because I'm loving the beautiful green colour.
Dunk into the steaming bowl of the hot soup and enjoy.
A solace on cold winter nights and rainy days...

Serving Suggestions

• Serve the Thai Broccoli Soup piping hot in individual soup bowls.
• Garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves, a few crunchy croutons, and a light swirl of coconut cream for an elegant finish.  A wedge of lime on the side allows guests to add an extra burst of freshness if desired.
• This soup pairs beautifully with crusty bread, garlic toast, or a light Thai-style salad. For a more substantial meal, serve it alongside steamed jasmine rice or a simple vegetable stir-fry.
• On cool rainy evenings, there is nothing quite as comforting as dunking a piece of warm bread into a steaming bowl of this fragrant soup and enjoying its creamy, aromatic flavours.
• For an attractive presentation, reserve a few tiny broccoli florets before blending, lightly blanch them, and use them as a garnish along with the coriander and coconut cream. This adds both colour and texture to the finished dish.

Variations

• The coconut milk can be replaced with dairy for non-vegans

• If not adding the Vegetarian Fish Sauce, check for salt and adjust accordingly by adding a little more salt to taste.

Warning ⚠

⚠Blending a blender full of hot ingredients will explode. 

Sukanya's Musings Note✍

This Thai-inspired Broccoli Soup proves that healthy food need not be boring. With the goodness of broccoli, the silkiness of coconut milk, and delicate Thai flavours, every spoonful feels comforting and nourishing. It is one of those recipes that is simple enough for a weekday meal yet elegant enough to serve guests.

#ThaiBroccoliSoup #CoconutMilkSoup #VegetarianSoup #VeganRecipes #SoupRecipes #HealthyEating #SukanyasMusings

Vegetable Lemon Garlic Clear Soup | Light & Refreshing Asian Style Soup Recipe

Vegetable Lemon Garlic Clear Soup

A light, comforting bowl filled with freshness, warmth and beautiful flavours.

There are certain dishes that instantly remind us of family outings and cozy restaurant dinners, and for us, this soup is exactly that. This happens to be my husband Yo’s absolute favourite soup, and without fail, he orders it every single time we visit our favourite restaurants. Over the years, my two little princesses also became huge soup lovers, and watching them happily sip spoon after spoon always made me want to recreate this comforting bowl at home.

The challenge was — I never quite knew how to make it.

So one day, while sitting at the restaurant with a steaming bowl in front of me, I decided to do what every passionate home cook secretly does — taste slowly and carefully, trying to identify every ingredient and flavour, almost like those contestants in MasterChef trying to decode a mystery dish.

A little garlic here… a hint of lemon there… the delicate crunch of vegetables… the subtle warmth of pepper…

And that was how this Vegetable Lemon Garlic Clear Soup was born in my kitchen.

This soup is a beautiful cross between a classic Chinese clear vegetable soup and a refreshing lemon garlic soup. Unlike thick creamy soups, this one is wonderfully light, clean and refreshing. The citrusy tang of lemon paired with crunchy colourful vegetables makes it not only visually beautiful but also incredibly soothing and comforting.

Perfect for rainy evenings, lazy dinners, or even when you simply want something warm yet light on the stomach.

Ingredients

• Onion – 1
• Garlic – 2 cloves
• Ginger – ¼ inch piece
• Chilli padi – 1 small red chilli (1–2 according to taste)
• Carrot – 1, thinly sliced into rectangles
• Broccoli – ½ cup florets
• Baby corn – 2 pieces
• White tofu (soup tofu) – a few slices, thinly sliced
• Green cabbage – a few leaves, thinly sliced
• Celery – ½ stick, thinly sliced
• Leek – 1, thinly sliced
• Lemon – 1 large
• Parsley – 2 tbsp, chopped
• Dill – 2 tbsp, chopped
• Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp, chopped
• Cumin powder – ¼ tsp
• Freshly ground black pepper – ¼ tsp
• Soya sauce – ½ tsp
• Corn flour – 2 tsp
• Vegetable oil – 1 tsp
• Salt – to taste

Method

Dice the onion. Mince the ginger very finely and crush the garlic gently with the back of a knife before chopping it finely. Chop the red chilli padi finely.

Slice and prepare all the vegetables and tofu as mentioned above in the ingredients list.

Heat oil in a saucepan. Add the ginger, garlic and chopped chilli padi along with a little salt. Stir fry gently for a couple of minutes until the beautiful aroma of ginger and garlic begins to infuse into the oil.

Now add the onions and sauté till translucent.

Next, add all the vegetables along with the tofu and stir fry for a couple of minutes. Add the soya sauce at this stage and mix well.

Pour in about 2 cups of water and allow the soup to come to a gentle boil.

By now, the vegetables should be only half cooked and still slightly crunchy. This is very important because it helps the vegetables retain their vibrant colours and gives the soup a lovely fresh texture.

Mix the corn flour with a little water, ensuring there are no lumps, and slowly add it to the soup while stirring continuously.

Add the cumin powder and freshly ground black pepper. Let the soup simmer gently for about 5 minutes.

Finally, add the chopped parsley, dill and coriander leaves and switch off the heat.

Now squeeze in the fresh lemon juice. Taste and adjust the salt or spice if required.

The lemon gives the soup an incredibly refreshing flavour and beautifully balances the warmth of the garlic and pepper.

Since this soup uses vegetables of different colours, it looks bright, cheerful and appealing — especially for children. A final dash of freshly ground pepper on top makes it even more comforting.

Serve steaming hot.

This soup tastes wonderful on its own, but you can also pair it with crispy garlic bread, toasted baguette slices or even simple fried rice for a wholesome meal.

#SukanyasMusings #LemonGarlicSoup #ClearSoup #VegetableSoup #HealthySoup #AsianSoup #ComfortFood #SoupLovers #HomemadeSoup #LightDinner #VegetarianSoup #HealthyRecipes #FoodBloggers #SoupRecipe #SingaporeFoodBlogger

RASAM (The South Indian Soup)

RASAM (The South Indian Soup)History and originsRasam is known as Chaaru, in Telugu or Saaru in Kannada, means "essence," and on improvisation it means, "juice" or "soup."
Tamil Iyengars, called it 'Chaathamudhu' (Chaaru + Amudhu, the Tamil form of Amrit (ambrosia)). One must understand the benefits of a dish that is equated with Amrit or Ambrosia (elixir of life)
Sourashtras, an immigrant community living in Madurai from the 16th century, still call it Pulichaar (Puli = Tamarind + Chaar).... (Puli or Pulipu means tart (tamarind)).With hoteliers and restaurateurs expanding their joints in South India in the mid-twentieth century, it was popularised and came to be known by its Tamil name as Rasam. World over it is most popularly known as Rasam.
Interestingly, rasam is the basis of mulligatawny soup, which is an Anglo-Indian version of the same.In the olden days it was prepared mainly with black pepper and tamarind, the ingredients native to and abundant in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and South India in general.In a formal meal, the rasam course is served after the sambhar course and followed by curd rice.
It is eaten mixed with rice, or drunk by itself. but it can also be had as an appetizer before the beginning of a meal.

Traditional Method of making Rasam
A Brahmin household will always have rasam as part of their daily meal.
Rasam is traditionally cooked in an alloy vessel (Eeya pathram). Eeyam means lead in Tamil, since lead is poisonous, people stopped using the eeya pathrams(vessels) or eeya chombu(pot), but there is no lead involved in the making of this vessel. It is primarily an alloy of tin and other metals.
The Eeya Pathram is said to add taste to the rasam, though modern science doesn’t really advise us to do so.
Nowadays there is a craze of reverting back to the things that were traditionally done and Eeya patrams are becoming popular again and have re-entered the stores.
One should be careful while using this vessel, for, it melts when on fire. You could call it a melting pot!
Rasam is prepared mainly with the juices of tamarind or tomato with pepper and other spices. Lentils are added frequently and other vegetables optionally. It differs from sambhar in that it usually relies on tomatoes for its sourness rather than tamarind, and it is usually much thinner. The sambhar has more lentils than Rasam. Ideally the water of the cooked lentils are added to the Rasam, thus giving the benefits of the lentils but at the same time keeping its consistency drinkable. Every rasam in every household is unique (even when the same ingredients are used), holding the distinct character and imprint of its cook.

Health Benefits of having Rasam
This light broth is not only a treat to the mouth but also has medicinal values.
Soups are usually known to act as an appetizer, similarly the rasam when had at the beginning of the meal is said to increases the appetite.
Rasam contains many spices which are considered beneficial to health.
Steaming hot rasam is supposed to be very soothing when you are suffering from a cold, cough or sore throat.
Rasam is usually served to the person who is sick with fever and has no appetite and feels tastelessness in the mouth, it not only increases the appetite but also the spices in the rasam hit the mouth and throat increasing the taste in the mouth.
Rasam is also had when someone suffers from a headache.
No wonder it was consumed everyday. Nowadays people are so busy they don’t get the time to cook, so people make do with either sambhar or rasam. There are hardly a few households left which prepare both like the olden times.

Saaru in Karnataka
A special reference to the Rasam or Saaru as it is known as in Karnataka. Karnataka is very famous for it distinctive taste of the Rasam. They prepare many varieties of the rasam. Rasam is so popular in their households that it is enjoyed as a main dish in many regions of Karnataka. The saaru of Karnataka is different from the rasam of Tamil Nadu, and the chaaru of Andhra Pradesh. It has more protein, thicker consistency, and more varied ingredients. Typically lentils are set to boil along with a teaspoon of oil. Lentils are cooked with a curry powder known in Karnataka as Saarina Pudi (saaru powder), along with salt, sugar, lemon juice, curry leaves, fried mustard seeds and a pinch of asafoetida powder. The curry leaves are added towards the end. Optionally, chopped coriander leaves and grated coconut are also added.
You will be amazed at the variety of Saaru prepared
Milagu Saaru - Known in the West the Mulligatawny soup (milagu = pepper, tanneer = water).
Tomato Saaru - With tomato puree as main ingredient.
Tamarind Saaru - With tamarind extract as main ingredient and without lentils.
Hesaru Kaalu Saaru - Green gram soup.
Pappu Saaru - Common variant made with pulses and tomato stock.
Baellae Saaru - Most common variety with toor dal, coconut & tamarind juice.
Vankaaya Saaru - Eggplant & tamarind juice.
Majjiga Saaru - Soup made with seasoned buttermilk.
Ulava Saaru - Horse gram soup.
Kattu saaru - Kattu refers to the water drained from the cooked dal.
Kattina saaru - a semi-sweet rasam using jaggery.
Jeerige saaru - made with jeera, cumin.
Lemon rasam - a sour soup made with lemon juice.
Hurali saaru - another healthy rasam made with horse-gram.
Mysore Rasam - A fragrant soup made with fried grams/dals.
Bassaaru - Deriving its name from "busodu" (Kannada), which is the act of draining water from boiled vegetables/greens/lentils.
Kottambari jeerige Saaru - made with coriander and cumin seeds.
Kadale Saaru - Soaked black chickpeas, coconut and ginger.
Alasundae Saaru - Black eyed peas and potato, coconut and ginger.

Rasam in Tamilnadu
There are different kinds of rasam depending on the ingredients:
Tomato rasam – Made with tomatoes and spices
Pineapple rasam – Made with Pineapple and spices
Meriyala/Milagu (Pepper) rasam – Pepper being the main ingredient here
Jeera rasam – Cumin being the main ingredient here
Kandathippili rasam – A herb used for illness
Neem leaf rasam – Neem Leaves are used to make this rasam which has immense health benefits
Lime rasam – Lime being the main ingredient here
Ginger rasam – Ginger being the main ingredient here
Garlic Rasam - Garlic being the main ingredient here

Chaaru in Andhra Pradesh
The Andhra Chaaru is similar to the saaru and rasam but more spicy than its counterparts as Andhra cuisine usually is.

There are vegetable rasams, fruit rasams and herbal rasams. You will be seeing a lot of Rasam recipes in my blog.

MY JFI ENTRY FOR DECEMBER 2007 - PARUPPU RASAM

JFI ENTRYThis was my first ever JFI entry, for those who don't know what JFI is refer to Indira's blog Mahanandi
I think its a wonderful event for all foodie fellow bloggers to come together. This month's event was hosted by Linda from Out of the Garden and the Ingredient was Toor Dal, It was the last day to send the entry and I had discovered about JFI that evening only, I decided to participate with a humble recipe of the Paruppu Rasam. Linda was kind enough to accept my recipe and I got to be part of this JFI.
Soon, I learnt that hosting the JFI is no mean business, a lot of hard work has to be put in, accumulating recipes, pictures, assimilating them and presenting them. And these women take their work seriously too. You can check their blog to know that. Isn't it amazing that women today manage their home, work, kids and their blogs so well. Here's my first ever JFI entry.

Paruppu RasamThe paruppu rasam is just the usual rasam, with the variation being, in this rasam, toor dal pulp is added in abundance and the rasam is less spicy. Suitable for infants and kids, so they can get proteins in their diet and also get introduced to the light spices in the rasam.

Ingredients
Tomatoes – 1 (optional)Tamarind Juice – 2-3 tablespoonsRasam powder – 1 tspCooked Toor Dal – 4-5 TbspsMustard seeds – 1tspCumin seeds – 1 tsp
Crushed Pepper – ½ tspAsafetida – a pinchSalt as per tasteGhee – 1 tbspCurry leaves – a sprigCoriander leaves for garnishing

Method
Cut your tomatoes into ¼ inch cubes, and add the tamarind juice, add salt, rasam powder, crushed pepper powder, a pinch of asafetida and allow to boil till the tomatoes are soft. You can crush one or 2 pieces of the tomatoes with a karandi(spoon) so that the essence of the tomato enters the rasam nicely.

Add the cooked toor dal. Boil for another 2-3 minutes.

Heat 1 tablespoon of Ghee in a pan, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, Fry till the mustard seeds pop. Add curry leaves, let it fry, pour this seasoning on top of the rasam.

Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and remove from flame.

Serve with hot rice and pappads. Or can also be served as an appetizer.

Note: Tomatoes are optional.

LEMON RASAM

Lemon Rasam

IngredientsLemon - 1Tomatoes - 1 bigFinely grated Ginger - a small pieceGreen chillies – 2-3Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoonRasam Powder – 2 teaspoonsAsafoetida – 1 teaspoonJeera powder (1 tablespoon) / Jeera seeds (whole - 1 tablespoon)Ground pepper – 1 teaspoonMustard - 1 teaspoonFenugreek (Methi Seeds) -1 teaspoonCooked Toor Dal (1 cup)Chopped fresh coriander for GarnishOil or ghee – 1 tablespoon
MethodSlit green chillies in the middle, Cut tomatoes into ¼ inch cubes, grate the ginger, keep aside.Put some oil / ghee (1 tablespoon) in a pan, add mustard, and when it crackles, add methi and jeera and let it get fried.To this add the green chillies, ginger and tomatoes, let it fry for a while till u see the tomatoes become soggy, then , add some turmeric powder, Asafoetida, salt and let it fry for five minutes or so.Once the tomatoes are slightly cooked, add water and let it cook. Add water as needed.Add jeera powder, rasam powder and the ground pepper to the broth. Allow to boil for a while so the spices enter the water. Take the cooked toor dal and make it into a watery pulp by smashing and adding water to it. Add this pulp to the boiling broth. Bring it to another boil. Add water as needed as the rasam should not be thick.Switch off the stove and let the rasam cool.Before serving, squeeze in the lime juice into the rasam.Add a little bit of salt. As lime usually sours the broth, so the salt in the broth reduces.Garnish with freshly chopped coriander.Tip: Don’t squeeze lime into very hot rasam as it may make the rasam bitter.
Don’t boil the rasam after adding the lime, even this will make the rasam bitter

RED CHILLY RASAM (Killu Milagai Rasam)

Red Chilly Rasam (Killu Milagai Rasam)
As the name suggests, red chillies are the main ingredient used in this rasam. It is for those who like spicy Rasams. Red chilly has a very distinctive flavor.

Ingredients
Red chillies – 4-5
Tamarind - lemon size (soaked in luke warm water)
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon.
Salt to taste.
Ghee or Oil – 1 tsp
Curry leaves -1 sprig.
Coriander leaves for garnish

Method
Break the red chillies into half. In a pan, heat oil, add mustard seeds and when they start to crackle add the red chillies. When the red chillies get plump, Add the curry leaves. Add the tamarind water. Squeeze our the tamarind pulp and add the concentrated water first and then the diluted one. Add salt and let it boil till the raw smell of the tamarind is gone. Once done, remove from flame. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves and serve hot.

MOONG DAL RASAM (Pesara Pappu Charu)

Moong Dal Rasam (Pesara Pappu Charu)This is an input from our Andhra Kitchen

Ingredients
Yellow moong dal - 1 cup
Onion, one - cut into chunks
Red chilli powder - ½ tsp
Turmeric - ½ tsp
Small marble size ball of tamarind p
Mustard seeds – 1tsp
Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
Oil/Ghee – 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Curry leaves – 1 sprig
Coriander leaves for Garnishing

Method
Roast the moong dal in a kadhai to a light brown color. Keep aside until it is cool. Take the roasted dal in a pressure cooker, wash and then add onion, red chilli powder, turmeric, tamarind along with about a glass of water. Pressure cook this. Once it is cooked add salt and mash the dal to smooth consistency.

In a vessel, take one teaspoon ghee, add the mustard seeds, once it splutters add cumin seeds, curry leaves. Add the smoothly mashed dal and two glasses of water.

See if anything is required, add salt, tamarind or chilly powder if required

Bring the broth to a boil and let it simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes on a low flame. Keep stirring lest the dal sticks to the bottom of the pan.

Remove from fire and garnish with coriander leaves.

Tip : If you like you can avoid the tamarind in the entire procedure. And after removing the rasam from the gas you can add lime. It tastes very good.

GOTTU RASAM

Gottu Rasam.This Rasam is simple to prepare, with no ingredients except tamarind, Rasam powder and water. Gottu Rasam is basically rasam minus toor dal. This is a quick and easy instant rasam which can be prepared in emergency, if you come back after a trip and there is nothing in the house, except the basic spices.

Ingredients
Tamarind Juice – 2-3 tablespoons
Rasam powder - 2 tspsMustard seeds – 1tspCumin seeds – 1 tspCrushed Pepper – 1 tspAsafetida - a PinchSalt as per taste
Ghee – 1 tbspCurry leaves – a sprigCoriander leaves for garnishing

Method
Take tamarind juice in a pan, add salt, rasam powder, crushed pepper powder,and a pinch of asafetida and allow to boil till the raw smell of the tamarind is gone

Heat 1 tablespoon of Ghee in a pan, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, Fry till the mustard seeds pop. Add curry leaves, let it fry, pour this seasoning on top of the rasam.
Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and remove from flame.
Serve with hot rice and pappads. Or can also be served as an appetizer.

Tomato Rasam

Tomato RasamIngredientsTomatoes – 1-2Tamarind Juice – 2-3 tablespoonsRasam powder - 2 tbspsCooked Toor Dal waterMustard seeds – 1tspCumin seeds – 1 tspCrushed Pepper – 1 tspAsafetida - a Pinch
Salt as per tasteGhee – 1 tbspCurry leaves – a sprigCoriander leaves for garnishing

Method
Cut your tomatoes into ¼ inch cubes, and add the tamarind juice, add salt, rasam powder, the crushed pepper powder, a pinch of asafetida and allow to boil till the tomatoes are soft. You can crush one or 2 pieces of the tomatoes with a karandi(spoon) so that the essence of the tomato enters the rasam nicely.
Add the water of the cooked toor dal. If there isn’t much water settled on top of your cooked toor dal then add some water and mix with the dal and pour the water that settles on top into the rasam. Boil for another 2-3 minutes.
Heat 1 tablespoon of Ghee in a pan, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, Fry till the mustard seeds pop. Add curry leaves, let it fry, Pour this seasoning on top of the rasam.
Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and remove from flame.
Serve with hot rice and pappads. Or can also be served as an appetizer.
Tip : Always use ghee for seasoning the rasam. It adds on to the flavor and taste of the rasam. Once you have used ghee for the seasoning you will never use oil again.

AMMA's SAMBAR POWDER

AMMA's SAMBAR POWDER 
Sambar Powder is one of the staple Masala powders in my kitchen.
Every recipe has a story and this one is very interesting.
When I got married and moved to Singapore Amma made me a big ziplock bag full of Sambar powder. She was worried, her little baby is going to manage cooking in a country so far away. Not that I was a baby, but my mother never allowed me to cook or near the gas as she was afraid I would get burnt. I had a very protective mother or should I say overprotective🤔.
To cut the long story short, the sambar powder didn't last long as the whiff of the aroma of the Sambar made waves in the foreign land. People started visiting often requesting me to make my famous Sambar, But alas, when the sambar powder got over, I had to buy a packet from the store.
I Chose a good brand, changed brands but the taste was gone, the aroma was gone.
That made me think 🤔.
Everything was the same, the process, major of the ingredients, the only thing that changed was the sambar powder and I got desperate for Amma's Sambar powder.
I had to make it now if I needed the rave reviews that I had gotten famous for.
It was a matter of honor.
A quick call and the recipe was jotted down in my blue diary....
Sharing my Amma's secret Sambar Powder recipe, Also known as Iyer veetu Sambar powder (This is a typical Brahmin Iyer household recipe, every house has its variations).

Ingredients
Whole coriander seeds - 1 cup
Pigeon Peas (Toor Dal ) - 1/4 glass
Raw Rice - 11/2  tablespoons
Fenugreek seeds (Methi seeds) - 11/2 tablespoons
Cumin seeds (Jeera)- 11/2 tablespoon
Black Peppercorns - 11/2 tablespoon
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Red chillies - 12 -15 (Preferably Kashmiri chilly) /Red chilly powder
2 teaspoons ground turmeric

Method
I use organic dals, Sort the ingredients, check for stones if any. And you are ready.
In a wok, First dry roast the red chillies, saute for 2-3 minutes till you see the chillies starting to get plump.
Some people avoid this step but this is a must according to me, as only then will the chillies not have the pachha vaadai(Raw smell).
You can also avoid roasting red chillies and use the readymade chilly powder as per your family spice level. But I prefer to roast the red chillies for a fresher aroma.
Some people add a spoon of oil to roast the chillies, but I don't As I usually make batches that last me for about 3 months.
Dry roast the red chillies and keep aside.
In the same wok, dry roast all the other ingredients until you get an aroma of the roasted spices.
Once cool down, First, grind the dry red chillies, then the rest of the ingredients, add the turmeric powder while grinding. Blend into a fine powder.
Store in an airtight container and use as required.
I keep Sambar powder that I need for daily cooking in Glass Bottles
Since we live in Singapore which has a humid climate and I make big batches, I store the Sambar powder in Ziplock bags and freeze them.
Enjoy this simple Sambar powder Recipe and make loads of sambar and enjoy!!!