A petite twist from the authentic South Indian Rasam, this Pear Rasam is equally comforting. The sweetness from the pear builds a lovely balance of taste with the tomatoes and the spices that goes in. With a bowl of white steamed rice, this Pear Rasam is utterly comforting!
What is Rasam?
Rasam is a south Indian traditional side dish, prepared almost every other day. It is often referred to a healthy soup that helps in digestion and cools the tummy.
The dish is often prepared with lots of tomatoes cooked in spices and curry leaves. Bot sometimes even lentils can be used to make it more filling.
On peak summer days, I don’t mind enjoying Rasam as a plain light soup and on cold days, I love it piping hot with a bowl of rice.
WATCH THE VIDEO OF PEAR RASAM
How is Pear Rasam Different?
Pear Rasam is just an addition of bite size pears in the same tomato based rasam. It adds a mild refreshing sweet taste to the rasam.
I add the pear right at the end, so it adds the taste and remains chunky instead of turning into a mush.
What kind of pear can be used?
Any variety ripe pear that is soft but too soft will work. Don’t discard the peel unless you absolutely want to.
I used bosc and red pears.
Can you make this rasam with dal?
Adding lentil/dal makes the rasam filling and it can be enjoyed not only as a side dish with rice, but also as a soup. Rasam is a great meal for days when you catch cold. Typically, toor daal (Yellow split Pigeon peas) is used to prepare rasam with dal.
The spices help to elevate your tastebud and help you feel better.
If you wish to use lentil for this pear rasam recipe, then add the boiled lentils along with the sliced pears and cook for a while for everything to incorporate and the flavors to blend.
Rasam Powder
You can use store bought rasam powder for a quick fix. But for the best robust flavor, I will highly recommend making a fresh batch at home.
Here is how you make it:
Dry roast toor dal and keep aside. Then to the same pan add the dry red chili and dry roast and take it off. Then in goes coriander seeds, black pepper, cumin seeds, methi (fenugreek seeds).
Once cooled, just grind into a fine powder.
Some even likes to add dry roasted curry leaves to the powder. I avoid that step and instead add a lot of fresh curry leaves while making rasam.
What other ingredients needed to prepare Pear Rasam ?
Apart from Rasam powder, you will need
- Tomatoes
- Pears
- Garlic
- Asafoetida (hing)
- Turmeric
- Black mustard seeds
- tamarind
- Cilantro leaves
- Curry leaves
Once you have the rasam powder ready, making this spicy soup is super easy and quick. Depending on how you want to serve this pear rasam, you can keep the consistency very soupy or concentrated with texture.
Enjoy it with rice or idli or enjoy as soup with some roasted papadum.
Rasam with Pear
Ingredients
for rasam powder
- 1 tablespoons toor daal
- 1 dry red chili
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon methi (fenugreek seeds)
rest of the ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 3 big size tomatoes (finely chopped)
- 2 pears (sliced into bite side chunks)
- 3 big garlic cloves (finely chopped)
- ½ teaspoon asafoetida
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon sugar (helps to enhance the flavor of the spices)
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste (add more if you prefer it tangier)
- Few fresh curry leaves
- Finely chopped cilantro leaves to add at the end
Instructions
- Prepare the rasam powder by dry roasting everything and then
grind into powder. - In a heavy bottom wok or pan, pour the oil. Once the oil
heats up, sprinkle the mustard seeds and curry leaves along with garlic. - Stir around for a few seconds and then add the asafoetida along
with tomatoes. Season with salt and add the turmeric plus sugar. - Cook the tomatoes for 2 minutes, then add the rasam powder.
Cook for 5 minutes, or until the raw smell is gone. The tomato should cook down and get mushy. - Add water as per your liking and consistency also season with
a bit more salt. Scatter the sliced pears along with tamarind paste. - Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Check for salt and add more if needed.
- Finally, add the finely chopped cilantro leaves and enjoy
pear rasam hot.
Notes
Can you make this rasam with dal?
Adding lentil/dal makes the rasam filling, and it can be enjoyed not only as a side dish with rice, but also as a soup. Rasam is a great meal for days when you catch a cold. Typically, toor daal (yellow split Pigeon peas) is used to prepare rasam with dal. The spices help to elevate your tastebud and help you feel better. If you wish to use lentil for this pear rasam recipe, then add the boiled lentils along with the sliced pears and cook for a while for everything to incorporate and the flavors to blend.Nutrition
mjskitchen
Pear and tomato...now that's I combination I never would have put together. With all the wonderful spices I can only imagine the burst of flavor one would get with every bite. This is one of those soup that will provide a long lasting taste in your mouth.
mustardseed
This is such an innovative recipe. It looks absolutely delicious. Have to make this one!
jeanne
wow. this is so gorgeous! I can't wait to try it.
nancy at good food matters
beautiful recipe, and an unusual, yet perfect use for my many garden tomatoes. heading over to Divya's blog now, thanks for letting us know about her lovely space.
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Aahhh! That rasam recipe has me drooling all over my keyboard 😀 Love the twist with pears. Can't wait to try this recipe during winter!
Life is Full
Rasam sounds like something I would want to try, it has a lovely colour too. I love your photograpy!!
Tes
What a gorgeous soup! and wonderful addition of pear in rasam 🙂
peachkins
I wish i could try a cup of that soup!
daksha
Hi! kankana congrats for top 9! Rasam is so good, i like with dosa:) Pears with rasam new for me.
Anita Menon
I really appreciate this about you. You really push your readers ( esp. me) out of my comfort zone and challenge us to try something absolutely unconventional.
Having grown up on rasam and sambar my whole life, a pear and tomato rasam combination creates a short circuit in my brain.
At the same time, it intrigues me and drags me out of my comfort zone to open my eyes and see that whilst you can keep the tradition part of it alive, it is always great to explore new flavour combination.
The photos are sooo good. Great job.
purabi naha
Rasam with pear?!! Girl, that's really innovative!! This sounds delicious!!
sally
The combination of tomatoes and pears is new to me. I'm sure it is delicious though.
sarah
So pretty! I've never used curry leaves or rasam powder but I'm looking forward to making some of my own- great post!
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy
You know, I have never made rasam at home even though I love it..pear is an excellent addition..looks wonderful..send me some! 🙂
Tiffany
Hi Again! Congrats on making Top 9!!! 😀