Kandan Thippili Rasam - Indian Long Pepper Soup

Botanical name for long pepper is Piper Longum.  The bark of the plant is called Kandan Thippili and the dried fruit is called Arisi Thippili.

            Kandan Thippili and Arisi Thippili                                         

Click here and here for some facts about Kandan Thippili and Arisi Thippili.  It is available in herbal medicine shops(Nattu marundhu Kadai) in South India.

This rasam is very effective remedy for common cold and cough.


Ingredients:
Thoor dal - 1/4 cup
Tamarind Paste - 1 TBSP
Tomato - 1 medium, pureed
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Asafoetida - 1/4 tsp
Salt - to taste
Ghee / Clarified Butter - 1 tsp
Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

Fry the following ingredients in 1 tsp of oil and grind to a smooth paste:
Kandan Thippili - 4 sticks
Arisi Thippili - 5
Whole Black Pepper - 2 tsp
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
Urad Dal - 1 tsp
Red chili - 1
Curry Leaves - 5

Method:

1. Pressure cook thoor dal until soft.  Let it cool and grind.
2. In a large pot, add the pureed tomato, tamarind paste, turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt.  Add 1 cup of water and let it boil for 10 minutes.
3. Now add the ground thoor dal and thippili paste, 1 cup water and boil  for another 5 minutes.  Remove from the heat.
4. Heat ghee in a small pan and splutter mustard seeds and add it to the rasam.
5. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
6. Rasam can be served with rice or as a soup.

Variation:
Add 5 to 6 garlic cloves along with tamarind water and cook until tender.