Indian Tomato Pepper Water Food

TOMATO RASAM (THAKKALI RASAM)

Steps:

• Take roughly chopped coriander stems with or without leaves (about a handful of coriander stems) in a blender or mixer jar. Also add garlic cloves and roughly chopped ginger.
• Add cumin seeds and black pepper.
• Grind to a coarse paste. Remove in a separate bowl or plate.
• In the same jar add the tomatoes (rinsed and chopped).
• Grind or blend to a smooth puree. If you want, you can blanch tomatoes and then puree them - for a bright red color in the rasam.
• In a heavy pan or pot, heat the oil. Keep the flame to its lowest.
• Add the mustard seed and let them begin to crackle.
• When the mustard seeds start to crackle, then add urad dal.
• Stirring often fry urad dal until they turn golden.
• Now add the dry red chilies (halved and seeds removed) and 1 pinch asafoetida. In case the pan becomes hot, then switch off the heat.
• Stir and fry for a few seconds till the red chilies change color.
• Add the coarsely ground coriander stems+ginger+garlic mixture and curry leaves. If the pan becomes too hot, then you can switch off the heat.
• Sauté for a minute on lowest flame taking care the mixture does not burn. You will get a nice aroma while sautéing this mixture.
• Add turmeric powder.
• Mix turmeric powder with the rest of the mixture.
• Now add the tomato puree. mix very well. Take care as the mixture splutters.
• Sauté for a minute. Season with salt as per taste.
• Then add 1.5 cups water. If you like a little thin tomato rasam, then you could add some more water. But do not add too much water as the flavors get diluted.
• Mix well and simmer thakkali rasam on medium-low heat until the rasam comes to a simmer.
• Overall simmer for 9 to 10 minutes.
• Finally switch off the heat and add 2 tablespoons chopped coriander leaves. Check the taste of tomato rasam and add more salt if needed.
• Serve tomato rasam hot, either like a curry over steamed white rice or enjoy as a bowl of hearty soup. Both ways are great with a side of pappadums or a simple toasted bread.
• Refrigerate any leftovers for a day. Reheat the rasam in a small pot or pan until warm or hot.
• If you plan to make ahead the rasam then do not add coriander leaves. After you reheat rasam, add the coriander leaves.

GOAN FISH CURRY

Steps:

• Place Curry Paste ingredients in a tall jug or milkshake container (something that fits the head of a blender stick) then blitz on high for 5 to 10 seconds until the onion is pureed. Add more water if needed to make it puree.
• Sizzle black mustard seeds: Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add black mustard seeds and let them sizzle for 30 seconds - careful, they might pop!
• Saute onion: Add red onion and cook for 3 minutes until edges start to tinge with gold.
• Cook off curry paste: Add curry paste and cook for 3 minutes - to evaporate water, make spices bloom and cook garlic & ginger.
• Cook off tomato: Turn heat up to medium high. Add tomato paste and tomato pulp, cook for 2 minutes.
• Coconut milk: Add water, coconut milk, sugar, salt and chilli powder if using. Stir, then bring to simmer, low heat so it's bubbling gently.
• Simmer 2 minutes, add tomato & green chilli: Simmer for 2 minutes, add tomato and green chilli.
• Simmer 3 minutes: Simmer for another 3 minutes, stirring every now and then - sauce should be thickened (not watery), it gets looser again when fish is added (because fish will drop some juices = even more flavour!).
• Add fish: Add fish, stir, cook for 3 to 4 minutes until fish easily flakes.
• Garnish & serve: Remove from stove and transfer to serving bowl. Garnish with coriander/cilantro and fresh green chillies if desired. Serve with basmati rice!

INDIAN SPICED TOMATO SOUP WITH CHEESY NAAN

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Heat 4 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add the cilantro stems, 1 tablespoon garlic, the ginger and coriander. Cook, stirring, until the coriander seeds begin to pop, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until brick red, about 30 seconds. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and cook, stirring, until juicy, about 2 minutes.
• Add 3 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to the pot. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are soft, about 15 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon garam masala. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon garlic and 1/4 teaspoon garam masala in a small microwave-safe bowl; microwave until melted, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Place the naan on a baking sheet; brush with the butter and broil until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the cheese and continue broiling until melted, 30 more seconds. Fold each piece of naan, then cut each in half.
• Divide the soup among bowls and top with the cilantro leaves. Serve with the naan.

KASUNDI: EASTERN INDIAN TOMATO CHUTNEY

Steps:

• In a nonmetallic bowl, soak the mustard seeds overnight in the malt vinegar.
• If you plan to can the chutney, prepare 5 (1/2-pint) canning jars, rings, and lids for storing your kasundi, by sterilizing them in boiling water. Let them air dry thoroughly and keep ready to use later.
• Boil a large pot of water over medium heat. While it is boiling, cut the skin on the bottom end of each tomato with the tip of a sharp knife, in a cross shape. Do not cut deep, only through the skin.
• When the water comes to a rolling boil, blanch the tomatoes by gently placing them into the water and leave for 50 to 60 seconds. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and immediately immerse in cold water.
• When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off the skin. Cut the peeled tomatoes into 1- to 1 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside.
• Put the soaked mustard seeds, vinegar they were soaked in, ginger, and garlic into a food processor and grind into a smooth paste. Set aside.
• Heat the mustard oil in a pot over low heat. When it is very hot, add the turmeric, cumin, and chili powder. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• Now add the peeled and cut tomatoes that have been drained of any excess liquid, the green chiles, the mustard-vinegar-ginger-garlic mixture, sugar, and salt. Continue to cook on low heat until the tomatoes become soft and pulpy. As this happens, the oil will begin to rise to the top of the mixture. This is a sign that the kasundi is well done.
• Taste and add more salt according to preference or if needed.
• Remove from the heat and carefully transfer hot kasundi into dry sterilized bottles. Top up with mustard oil. Cover with sterilized lids and process in a water bath for 10 minutes.
• Remove from water and let cool on a towel on a flat surface. When you hear the lids pop, you know the jars have been safely canned. Screw on the bands and let sit in a cool, dark place for four weeks for best flavor before trying, and for up to one year for longer storage.

BELL PEPPER, TOMATO, AND POTATO INDIAN CURRY

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over low heat. Stir mustard seed into hot oil; cook and stir until seeds start to crackle, about 30 seconds. Stir garlic, green chile pepper, curry leaves, cumin seed, and asafoetida powder into mustard seeds; cook and stir until the garlic is fragrant and beginning to turn golden, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir tomatoes into garlic mixture, increase heat to medium, and cook, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes are softened, about 10 minutes. Add water, cumin, cayenne pepper, coriander, and turmeric to tomato mixture; stir.
• Mix potato, bell pepper, lemon juice, and salt into tomato mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer until potatoes and peppers are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

INDIAN TOMATO PEPPER WATER

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, put chopped tomatoes, pepper, cayenne powder, cumin powder, turmeric, coriander, salt, 4-5 cups water, and 1/2 Celsius tamarind juice extracted by soaking a small ball of tamarind (or you can use 2 teaspoons of tamarind paste).
• Bring all to a boil and then reduce heat and cook on low 5-6 minutes.
• In a separate sauce pan, heat the oil.
• Add mustard seed and let it sputter a bit.
• Add curry leaves, onion, garlic and red dried chilies.
• Sauté for a few minutes.
• Pour cooked pepper water into this and simmer for two minutes.
• Enjoy!

SPICY TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat; stir in onions and bay leaves, and cook about 5 minutes until the onions begin to soften. Add flour, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala, turmeric, and Indian chili powder. Cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Pour the water into the pan, and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom with a wooden spoon. Pour in the tomato puree and thin with additional water to desired consistency. Add sugar and salt; cook until sugar is dissolved and soup is hot, about 5 minutes.
• Remove bay leaves and serve with cream if desired.