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
This looks like a unique and delicious recipes! I love lentils and look forward to trying!
This is totally new for me and very interesting recipe.
Love that this lentil dish is made with ingredients I would have in my kitchen already. Definitely making this soon. Pinned to try it.
Thank you Rebecca:)
I love the bright color! I’ve never had Rasam, but excited to try it out!
Thank you Christine:)
What lovely flavours! Sounds amazing :O)
Thank you!
These flavours sound so delicious 🙂
What a bright color!
Yes 🙂
I love split pea soup and this variation looks wonderful. Beautiful color too!
Thanks Jen!
I love the coconut milk – ginger combo. It sounds super refreshing!
Thank you Kelly! Yes my favorite combo too:)
So intriguing. Never had a rasam with coconut milk. Ive gotta try it sometime 🙂
Thank you Manju:) adding coconut milk makes this rasam very special !
what an interesting rasam!
Yes it is:)
Woaahh, 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!
Yes you should do Hauke 🙂
This sounds lovely! I love the heat it packs too – that’s a lot of chilies in my kitchen! 😀
The ginger and chilies also adds nice flavor to this dish:) Thank you Gin!