Lemon Rasam

Preparation time: 15 mins
Makes 3 servings
Cooking time: 3 mins

Ingredients:

Toor Dal - 1 tbsp
Lemon - 1/2
Tomato- 1 chopped finely.
Peppercorns - 1tbsp
Green Chillies - 2 nos
Cumin Seeds - 1tsp
Rasam powder - 1 tsp
Ginger - 1" piece
Asafoetida - a pinch
Mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
Water
Salt
Cilantro - 1 handful
Curry Leaves - 1 sprig

Procedure:

1. Cook toor dal with 1 cup of water. Mash it up and retain water.
2. Grind the peppercorns, 3/4 tsp of cumin seeds in a mortar & pestle or coarsely grind in a mixer. 
3. Chop green chillies finely & crush it along with the ginger ; keep it aside.
4. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a kadai and add mustard, 1/4 tsp of cumin seeds and curry leaves. 
5. Add the tomatoes and saute till it becomes mushy.
6. To this add the crushed ginger-chilli & ground pepper-cumin mixture. 
7. Saute it for a minute and now add the tamarind water.
8. To this add asafoetida , rasam powder and salt.
9. Add the toor dal water to it and add extra water as required.
10. Let this mixture boil for just about a minute. Do not let it boil too much.
11. Switch off the heat & add lemon juice to this, mix well.

Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves & serve hot with steamed rice. :)