Tomato Rasam
South Indian peppery tomato soup
Ingredients
- 3 Tomato
- 1 tbsp Tamarind paste
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 1 tsp Black peppercorns (whole)
- 1 tsp Brown mustard seeds
- 10 Curry leaves
- ½ tsp Ground turmeric
- 2 tbsp Ghee
- 1 tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Coarsely crush the garlic, cumin seeds, and peppercorns to a rough paste.
- Roughly chop the tomatoes.
- Simmer the tomato with the tamarind paste, turmeric, the crushed paste, salt, and plenty of water until the flavours meld and the rasam smells fragrant.
- Heat the ghee in a small pan and crackle the mustard seeds and curry leaves, then pour the sizzling tempering over the rasam.
- Finish with cilantro and serve hot with rice.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Tomato Rasam
Tomato Rasam is a thin, intensely aromatic South Indian broth built on the twin sourness of tomato and tamarind. Rasam sits at the heart of a Tamil meal — usually spooned over rice midway through, between the heavier sambar course and curd — and its whole character comes from tempering and spice rather than body. Here the flavor base is a coarse crush of garlic, cumin and whole black peppercorns, simmered with tomato, tamarind and turmeric until the kitchen smells fragrant, keeping it firmly in the peppery, digestive style of the dish rather than a thick soup.
What sets rasam apart is the tadka, the sizzling tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves bloomed in ghee and poured over the broth at the end, which perfumes the whole pot in seconds. The taste is tangy and warming, with black pepper providing a slow heat and cumin a rounding earthiness, all finished with fresh cilantro. It's traditionally eaten hot with rice, but many drink it on its own as a restorative when they're under the weather or want something light. Quick to make and naturally low-carb, this version is a good introduction to why rasam is comfort food across South India.
Tomato Rasam: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Tomato Rasam?
A serving has about 129 calories — 2.7g protein, 12.2g carbs, 8.2g fat, 3.1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Tomato Rasam gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Tomato Rasam has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Is Tomato Rasam dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Ghee. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Tomato Rasam take to make?
About 25 minutes start to finish, but only around 9 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Tomato Rasam?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cilantro — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Tomato Rasam make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.