I bet you cannot find a better option than ” Tovve Saaru” when it comes to a quick and healthy recipe, especially if you are not feeling a 100%. Not only is the Tovve Saaru rich in protein, it also packs in the power of ginger to take care of the ill effects from the common cold. If you are out of produce, this will be the best, easy and healthy choice. All you need is toor dal or moong dal and a few other common ingredients. Both the dal choices are equally tasty and healthy. The best part is that you do not need any curry powder for this recipe! It goes well with rice or even as a soup!
The secret behind the taste is from turmeric, coconut milk, ginger and the dal. Tovve (Translation: Dal in local language) saaru is one of the little known comfort food in Karnataka.
The flavor from coconut milk, ginger give this recipe a dense soupy texture. They also add a rich slow cooked depth of flavor. You can adjust the spiciness to your taste by adding fewer green chilies but skipping any other ingredient would not do justice to the dish. I used to make this dish almost every day, accompanied with sautéed veggies and some home made chips or mango pickle.
Follow these simple steps for saaru or rasam
Tovve Saaru |Split Yellow lentil Rasam
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup split yellow lentils or moong dal
- 4 cup water
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- Salt
- 1 tbsp minced ginger
- 2-3 green chilies
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1-2 red chilies
- 2 tsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Place a medium size vessel with 2 cups water and washed Moong dal over medium heat. Place a cover on top and check back in 10 minutes.
- When the dal appears cooked (squishy or mashable), add turmeric powder, ginger, green chilies and add 2 more cups of water. Place a cover and let the it boil on medium heat.
- When it starts to boil, add salt and coconut milk and turn off heat.
- Add chopped cilantro and squeeze a little lemon juice on top.
- Finally, prepare the seasoning: Place pan over medium heat with tea spoon of coconut oil. As the oil starts to heat up, add cumin seeds, black gram, and red chilies. When the spices start to roast, add curry leaves and switch off the heat.
- Now add this seasoning to Tovve Saaru.
Nutrition
Tovve Saaru is best served hot, with sautéed veggies and pickle! Enjoy!Â
Emily Rampton
May 23, 2016 at 11:37 pmThis looks like a unique and delicious recipes! I love lentils and look forward to trying!
kage2015
May 23, 2016 at 11:42 pmThis is totally new for me and very interesting recipe.
rebecca
May 24, 2016 at 3:21 pmLove that this lentil dish is made with ingredients I would have in my kitchen already. Definitely making this soon. Pinned to try it.
Uma Srinivas
May 24, 2016 at 7:12 pmThank you Rebecca:)
Christine - Jar Of Lemons
May 24, 2016 at 7:28 pmI love the bright color! I’ve never had Rasam, but excited to try it out!
Uma Srinivas
May 24, 2016 at 9:17 pmThank you Christine:)
melmcdonald2
May 25, 2016 at 4:55 amWhat lovely flavours! Sounds amazing :O)
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 4:15 amThank you!
Aimée / Wallflower Girl
May 25, 2016 at 10:02 amThese flavours sound so delicious 🙂
Strength and Sunshine
May 25, 2016 at 10:07 amWhat a bright color!
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 4:13 amYes 🙂
Jenn
May 25, 2016 at 6:24 pmI love split pea soup and this variation looks wonderful. Beautiful color too!
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 4:11 amThanks Jen!
Kelly Page (@TastingPage)
May 25, 2016 at 8:17 pmI love the coconut milk – ginger combo. It sounds super refreshing!
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 4:11 amThank you Kelly! Yes my favorite combo too:)
Manju | Cooking Curries
May 25, 2016 at 9:44 pmSo intriguing. Never had a rasam with coconut milk. Ive gotta try it sometime 🙂
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 4:12 amThank you Manju:) adding coconut milk makes this rasam very special !
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health
May 26, 2016 at 2:25 amwhat an interesting rasam!
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 4:13 amYes it is:)
Hauke Fox
May 26, 2016 at 1:02 pmWoaahh, and it’s not even difficult to make. I should try out a month of Indian cooking and make all those delish recipes that have been lining up for ages!
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 6:18 pmYes you should do Hauke 🙂
Gin
May 26, 2016 at 6:38 pmThis sounds lovely! I love the heat it packs too – that’s a lot of chilies in my kitchen! 😀
Uma Srinivas
May 26, 2016 at 9:36 pmThe ginger and chilies also adds nice flavor to this dish:) Thank you Gin!