Tomato Rasam Recipe

Tomato Rasam Recipe also known as thakkali rasam or rasam or Indian tomato soup is one of the classic comfort food in a South Indian lunch menu. It’s spicy, tangy, light, enjoy this quick rasam with hot rice, drizzled with ghee and papad on side for a satisfying meal. Even though tomato rasam is simple to make, I have share two ways of making the humble tomato rasam with step by step pictures and video.

Tomato Rasam

My all time favourite is this rasam, even though I have made lots of varieties of rasam and shared it here, tomato rasam is still my favourite. I make this quite a lot of ways but this is my favourite and fail proof recipe.

Jump to:

• About Tomato Rasam | Thakkali Rasam
• Watch Tomato Rasam Video
• Tomato Rasam Ingredients
• Rasam Powder (Homemade)
• How to Make Tomato Rasam (Stepwise Pictures)
• Variations
• Expert Tips
• Varieties of Rasam
• 📖 Recipe Card

About Tomato Rasam | Thakkali Rasam

Traditional South Indian soup made with tomatoes, garlic, spices and coriander leaves. It is normally served with a huge meal.  Combination of  tomatoes, tamarind, garlic, cumin and black pepper is simmered down to a thin soup like consistency is called as rasam or charu. 

Rasam is known to help in digestion and is actually good for you. You can make it in numerous ways. Tomato Rasam or Thakkali Rasam is one of the popular rasam. In this blog post I have shared 2 ways of making tomato rasam which you will enjoy.

The key for making tasty rasam is the balance of flavours and taste. Always taste and adjust tamarind, salt, sugar as per your taste. And definitely do not skip on garlic and coriander leaves which is the main flavouring of a good rasam.

Similar Rasam Recipes

Garlic Rasam
Pepper Rasam
Coconut Milk Rasam
Andhra Rasam or Charu

Watch Tomato Rasam Video

Tomato Rasam Ingredients

Tomatoes - use ripe red tomatoes to make tomato rasam. Depending on the type of rasam I make, I like to add chopped and ground tomato puree. Tomato helps adding the taste and texture to a delicious thakkali rasam.

Cumin Seeds - cumin seeds is one of the main flavouring for rasam. you can use cumin seeds that are ground fresh or use roasted cumin powder.

Garlic - don't miss on garlic. use lots of garlic for rasam, specially in the end for aroma.

Spice Powders - I use a mix of chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and pepper powder. Sometimes I even use rasam powder in this as well.

Salt & Sugar - As all recipes, you need salt and a little bit of sugar. I use either white sugar or a small piece of jaggery.

Tempering Spices - mustard, cumin, curry leaves are added in tempering. And asafoetida is one of the main spice.

Coriander Leaves - don't miss to add lots of fresh coriander leaves in the end which is one of the key flavour for a proper rasam.

Oil or Ghee - you can use oil for making rasam. But ghee adds flavour.

Rasam Powder (Homemade)

Most of the time I use a combination of red chilli powder, coriander, turmeric and black pepper powder while making rasam. I don't use rasam powder that often. But if you don't have much time, you can add some rasam powder while cooking. And if you want rasam that can be made very easily, make sure you check my Instant rasam powder recipe. But here is my recipe for Rasam Powder

Homemade Rasam Powder Recipe

• Toor Dal - ½ cup
• Dry Red Chillies - 15
• Whole Pepper - 1 tblspn
• Coriander Seeds- 3 tblspn
• Cumin Seeds - 1 tblspn
• Curry Leaves a handful
• Asafoetida - 1 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1 tblspn

How to Make It

• Roast all the ingredients separately, except, turmeric and asafoetida.
• Once all ingredients all well roasted, add it back in to the pan, turn off the heat and add in asafoetida and toss well.
• Remove this to a plate and let it cool completely.
• Take this in a blender along with turmeric powder. Powder finely.
• Store it in an air tight container and use accordingly.

How to Make Tomato Rasam (Stepwise Pictures)

Grinding Masala

1)I added some cumin seeds and garlic in a blender. In this you can add some whole black pepper as well. I added black pepper powder, so I skipped it here.

2)Add in one tomatoes that is roughly chopped.

3)Grind the garlic, cumin and tomatoes coarsely. Set this aside.

Tempering Spices

4)Heat oil or ghee in a pan. Once the oil is hot enough, add in the whole spices. I am using mustard, cumin and curry leaves.

5)Add in asafoetida. You can use powdered asafoetida or use it in rock form as well.

6)Let the spices sizzle for a minute till it is toasted. Don't let it burn.

Making Base for Rasam

7)Add in the ground tomato garlic puree into the oil.

8)Add in the spice powders. I am using turmeric, chilli powder, coriander and black pepper powder. Add in some rasam powder if you have that as well.

9)Add in some salt and sugar to taste. You can use jaggery instead of sugar.

10)Mix this whole thing and cook till oil separates from this. This is your rasam masala.

Making Tomato Rasam

11)Now add in one chopped tomato and a slit green chilli.

12)I soaked a small lime size tamarind in water and squeezed to extract the pulp. Pour this tamarind extract into the rasam base.

13)Add more water as needed to form rasam. Heat this and bring it to a boil.

14)Now add in some crushed garlic cloves.

15)Once the rasam starts to boil around the sides, As soon as you see frothy texture like this, turn off the heat.

Finishing Rasam

16)Add lots of chopped coriander leaves.

17)Immediately cover the pan with a lid.

18)Serve with rice.

Variations

Easy Method for Making Tomato Rasam (Instant Rasam)

This version of tomato rasam is my go-to when I don't have much time on hand. I add everything in a blender and puree them. Pour it in a sauce pan and boil. Thats it. The Ingredients used is same. It is easy, tasty and quick to make as well.

Ingredients Used

• Tomatoes - 2 medium size chopped
• Garlic - 4 cloves
• Cumin Seeds / Jeerakam - 1 tsp
• Salt to taste
• Sugar - 1 tsp
• Chilli Powder - 1 tsp
• Pepper Powder - 1 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - ½ tsp
• Tamarind Pulp - 2 tbsp
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Water - 2.5 cups
• Coriander Leaves - a small handful finely chopped

How to Make Instant Tomato Rasam

1)We are going to grind all the ingredients and make this rasam. Take tomatoes, garlic in a blender.

2)Add in cumin seeds. You can use roasted cumin powder instead.

3)Add all the spice powders, salt, sugar or jaggery.

4)Add in tamarind.

4)grind this together into a smooth puree.

5)Pour this in a sauce pan. Add more water as needed to form the rasam.

Pro Tips: I didn't temper this rasam. I just poured this in the sauce pan and boiled. If you want you can temper oil with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, asafoetida and curry leaves before adding in the tomato puree.

6)Bring this to a full boil like this. Once you see foam on top of the rasam, take it off the heat.

7)add in lots of coriander leaves.

8)Serve with rice.

Expert Tips

• Instead of adding all the spice powders, you can use rasam powder which is either homemade or store bought.
• You can add more or less tamarind depending on your taste.
• Make sure you use lots of crushed garlic and coriander leaves which are the main flavourings.
• The main thing you have to keep on mind is " never boil rasam " once it comes to a simmer and you see a foamy layer form in over it, just turn it off and add a bunch of coriander leaves.
• Always keep the rasam bowl of pan covered till you serve it. Because then the aroma can escape.Keep this two thing on mind and i am sure you will make the perfect rasam always.

Storage & Serving

Leftover rasam can be stored in an air tight container in fridge for upto 3 to 4 days. Reheat when serving. Rasam taste great when served hot with steamed rice and some kind of side dishes. You can enjoy a bowl of rasam as it is. 

Varieties of Rasam

As a South Indian myself making rasam almost daily. I have published over 20 version of rasam on this blog. Here is the collection of my rasam recipes.

Milagu Rasam - one of the popular rasam is this pepper rasam. This is great when you have cold, cough and not feeling well.

Thippili Rasam - This is great when you have cold, cough. This rasam induces sleep as well.

Curd Rasam - if you love tempered curd then this is the rasam you can try. Quite different but taste great

Pineapple Rasam - This is a lip smacking recipe made with pineapple. THe flavour of pineapple comes right through and it is a family favorite.

Onion Rasam - a different style of making rasam made with onions.

Lemon Rasam - I could literally drink this.

More Rasam Recipes on the Blog

📖 Recipe Card

If you have any questions not covered in this post and if you need help, leave me a comment or mail me @[email protected] and I’ll help as soon as I can.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest ,Youtube and Twitter for more Yummy Tummy inspiration.

IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE OR ANYTHING FROM YUMMY TUMMY, MAKE SURE TO POST IT AND TAG ME SO I CAN SEE ALL OF YOUR CREATIONS!! #YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI AND @YUMMYTUMMYAARTHI ON INSTAGRAM!

More South Indian Recipes