Quick Karnataka-style Rasam Recipe with Homemade Love Rasam Powder
The Story Behind Homemade Love’s Saarina Pudi (Rasam Powder)
In every South Indian home, rasam is more than just a dish — it’s comfort in a cup. Light, tangy, and soul-warming, it’s that one meal you turn to when you want something soothing yet flavourful.
Our Homemade Love Saarina Pudi is a treasured family recipe passed down and perfected by Nagamani TK. With years of patience, practice, and love, she created a rasam powder that brings the same warmth to every meal that her kitchen always did.
Made with freshly roasted spices and a balance of tang and heat, this blend captures the heart of traditional South Indian cooking — simple, honest, and full of soul.
Whether you sip it like soup or mix it with rice, a bowl of rasam always feels like home.
About This Recipe
This recipe is for a classic Karnataka-style rasam — or saaru, as we fondly call it at home. It’s slightly thicker than other South Indian rasams, made with cooked toor dal, tangy tamarind, a little bit of jaggery (optional) and our signature Homemade Love Saarina Pudi for that perfect balance of spice, tang, and warmth.
But here’s the beauty of it — while this blend brings out the true Karnataka flavour, it’s also wonderfully versatile. You can use the same Homemade Love Saarina Pudi (Rasam Powder) to make other regional styles of rasam too — from the peppery Tamil-style milagu rasam to lighter Andhra versions. Just tweak the tamarind, dal, or pepper levels to your liking.
Because no matter which version you make, one thing stays the same — that unmistakable taste of home.
🥕 Ingredients (Serves 4)
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Toor dal (Thor dhal) – ½ cup (about 125 g)
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Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
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Tomatoes, medium-sized – 2
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Tamarind – small lemon-sized ball (about 1½ tbsp extract)
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Salt – 1½ tsp, or as per taste
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Homemade Love Saarina Pudi (Rasam Powder) – 1½ tsp 😊
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Jaggery – ½ inch cube (optional, for balance)
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Oil – 1 tbsp
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Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
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Jeera (cumin seeds) – ½ tsp
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Hing (asafoetida) – a pinch
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Dry red chillies – 2 (optional for tadka)
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Curry leaves – 1 sprig
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Coriander leaves, finely chopped – 2 tbsp
🍲 Method
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Cook the dal and tomatoes
Wash the toor dal well. Add it to a pressure cooker with diced tomatoes, turmeric, 2 cups of water, and 1 tsp oil.
Pressure cook for 1–2 whistles (depending on your cooker). Allow the pressure to release naturally, then whisk well until smooth. -
Mix the rasam base
Add salt, Homemade Love Saarina Pudi, tamarind extract, and jaggery (if using). Stir well and bring to a gentle boil. Add more water if required to get your preferred consistency. -
Simmer to perfection
Let it boil for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You’ll know it’s ready when the kitchen fills with that unmistakable rasam aroma! -
Prepare the tempering (tadka)
Heat oil in a small pan. Add mustard seeds and jeera, and let them crackle. Then add hing, red chillies, and curry leaves. Let them sizzle till fragrant. -
Add the tadka and finish
Pour the hot tempering over the rasam. Switch off the stove, stir gently, sprinkle with chopped coriander, and cover it for a few minutes to let the flavours settle.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy your Rasam with:
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Steamed rice and a dollop of ghee and piping hot papad
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Or simply drink it warm on a rainy evening
❤️ Nagamani Aunty’s Tip
A touch of jaggery balances the tanginess of tamarind and the spice of rasam powder beautifully. And remember — rasam tastes even better the next day, once the flavours have mingled!
Why Choose Homemade Love Saarina Pudi?
Our Saarina Pudi is made the traditional way — roasted, hand-mixed, and packed with care. No shortcuts, no artificial preservatives. Just pure South Indian flavour, the way it’s meant to be.
