Ingredients

1. Tamarind --- 1-2 Tsb (small ball)
2. Garlic --- 6-8 pearls sliced
3. Tomato --- 1 large chopped /paste
4. Turmeric powder --- ¼ tsp;"
5. Pepper powder --- 1 tsp
6. Jeera powder --- 1 Tsp
7. Cilantro(Chopped) ---2½ stems
8. Salt --- to taste

Method

1. Soak a small ball of puli in half a cup of water.
2. Cut/Grind one tomato, 6-8 garlic cloves, 1 tsp cumin/jeera and boil all in 4 cups of water.
3. Add 1/4 tsp turmeric and 1 or less tsp pepper powder.
4. Squeeze the soaked puli and pour the juice. (Add little by little till you get the correct tanginess).
5. Chop a small bunch of Coriander laeves and dump.
6. Garnish with 1/2 spoon spluttered mustard and a dry red chilly in 1 tbs heated oil (pour rasam into that)

Notes

1. Last 2-3 times I made rasam using a rice cooker.
2. Take 3-4 cups of water and cook tomato pieces till it becomes soft.
3. Add all the ingredients and let it boil for 5 minutes and the Rasam is ready. (You may opt for 1-2 tbs of readymade rasam powder)
4. You can create a perfect taste by balancing the tamarind juice and salt. Use judiciously.