My mother (Rekha Ramolia) is Maharashtrian and hence I have grown up relishing the Maharashtrian delicacies made by her. I love the tomato saar that she makes. She serves it with masale bhaat or pulao. It is sweet, tangy and spiced with green chili and ginger. The tempering made by heating ghee and frying cumin seeds, chilies, asafoetida and curry leaves enhances the flavor. She used the make a big pot of tomato saar as we liked to have it by itself before dinner, just like soup, and then have it with the masale bhaat or pulao. My father still prefers drinking this desi tomato version of soup to the creamy tomato soups. He likes to drink it hot in the cold weather.
My mother used a generous amount of ghee for tempering/tadka/phodni. It would float on the surface of the Saar with cumin seeds and curry leaves. Since I prefer using less oil or ghee to my dishes, I have used less ghee. But the saar is tasty.
Friends, so make this quick tomato saar with plain rice, masale bhaat or pulao and please share your comments with me.
Tomato Saar/ Spiced Tomato Soup
Ingredients
- 4 tomatoes washed and chopped
- 1 inch ginger grated
- 1.5 cup water
- 1/4 cup dessicated coconut or 1/2 cup fresh coconut grated
- 1 tbsp peanuts
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 green chili chopped
- 2 tsp sugar
- salt to taste
- 1/2 cup extra water if needed
For tempering/tadka
- 1 tsp ghee clarified butter
- 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 green chili slit lenghtwise
- 1/4 asafoetida hing
- 10 curry leaves
- 1 dry red chili
Instructions
- In a pressure cooker add chopped tomatoes, grated ginger, and water. Cover the lid with a whistle and pressure cook for 4-5 whistles. Let the pressure cooker cool by itself.
- In a grinder jar, add desiccated coconut, peanuts, green chili and cumin seeds. Grind it to a fine powder.L
- After the cooker is cooled, release pressure by lifting the whistle and open the lid. Add the prepared powder mixture of coconut and peanut. Blend the mixture till smooth.
- Now strain the mixture and remove it in a bowl.
- Heat ghee in a pot.
- Add cumin seeds. When it crackle add green chili, dry red chili, asafoetida, curry leaves.
- Saute till the red chili and curry leaves change the color.
- Pour the pureed and strained tomato mixture.
- Add sugar and salt and let it boil.
- Mix well. The tomato saar is ready.
- Serve the saar with plain steamed rice for a quick weeknight meal or with masalebhaat or pulao. You can also enjoy it as a soup with paratha or bread.
Nutrition
very tempting
It is very tempting recipe i usually make it in winter quick and easy recipe
Thank you so much!! Yes the ginger gives a nice warmth to the body during winters. I love the saar served with masale bhaath at Maharashtrian weddings!