Dal / Saar and Sambhars, Mangalore Tomato Saar

Simple Mangalore Tomato Saar or Tomato Soup without lentils.

Posted on by Carol Pereira


Who can resist a steaming hot bowl of tomato saar to either drown your rice in or to sip as an appetiser before or after a meal? Well not me, or any Mangi that I have come cross.
 
This tomato saar recipe is for the LAZY….sorry beg your pardon!! did I just say that…ahem.. YES I DID!! because many a times I fall under that bracket, or should I be cheeky and say this recipe is for the canny, who are conscious of their time and would rather use a few shortcuts to produce a suprisingly delicious tomato saar, with absolutely no compromise on flavour, restaurant quality!! One that will give your spouse the impression that you have been sweating over boiling tomatoes, peeling their skins and pureeing them, then pounding spices, etc etc… to produce this delicious concotion!! When you have done none of that….hahaha.

 

 Well I promise you this, give this tomato saar a try, you will never go back to slogging over another one again. Perfectly ripe soft tomatoes work brilliantly for this recipe, though canned chopped tomatoes work better 🙂 
 
Enjoy this delicious tangy and piping hot tomato saar either plain as is, or spice it up with your favourite rasam powder. 
 
Well this tomato saar needs to be eaten in the right way for maximum pleasure 🙂 
Pour the piping hot tomato saar over your rice (for me the rice has to be swimming in the saar) then using your finger tips coat the rice with the piping hot saar, making sure you do not burn yourself ! then scoop mouthfuls of this delicious mixture into your mouth, accompanied with fried fish and vegetable. When all is done, lift up the plate to your lips and drink off any remaining saar, the orphaned bits can be polished off by licking your fingers….slurpp!!! 
 
Once you are done, put your feet up and revel in the feeling of completeness, or if you cannot resist, dive in for some more :). Repeat and enjoy!!

 

To make Simple Mangalore Tomato Saar/ Rasam
Serves:4 | Preparation time: 3 minutes | Cooking time: 20-25 minutes.
Ingredients:
Tomato large red and ripe: 3 nos or 1 can of chopped tomatoes
Garlic cloves : 4 crushed
Turmeric powder:1/2 tsp
Rasam powder: 2 tbsp
Tamarind extract: 1 tbsp or to taste
Curry leaves: A few
Coriander leaves: 2 tbsps
Oil: 2 tbsp
Hot Water: 3 cups
Salt: to taste


Seasoning:
Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
Curry leaves: 1 sprig
Dry red chillies: 2 nos (broken into halves)
Hing: 2 large pinches

 Method:
1. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a heavy bottom pan. Add mustard seeds and when they crackle, add broken red chillies, curry leaves and hing and saute for a while. Add crushed garlic and stir for another minute.
2. Add the chopped tomatoes and salt and stir,  allow the tomatoes to cook on a medium to high flame till they are softened and the juices dry out, should take 7-8 minutes.
3. Add the turmeric powder and rasam powder to the softened tomatoes and fry for a minute on a medium heat.
4. Then add the tamarind extract and mix well. Add the hot water. Mix well. 

5. Close the vessel and cook the saar on a low flame for about 7 – 10 mins. Taste for salt. Adjust. Sprinkle over chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

Would love to know if you enjoyed this Mangalore Style Simple Tomato saar

If you liked this Tomato saar you might want to give these Mangalore saars a try too

Have a great weekend friends,

Yours in Taste,

Carol Pereira

Carol Pereira

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