Paruppu Rasam

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Paruppu rasam recipe with step by step photos – paruppu rasam or dal rasam is another rasam variant that is flavorful, spicy and a favorite at home after Tomato rasam. Serve this comforting rasam with any South Indian meal or with steamed rice or you can drink it like a soup.

paruppu rasam garnished with coriander leaves and served in a bowl with rice on side.

This dal rasam was made by mom when all of us would have cold attacks in the winters or monsoons.

It is a spicy one, though I usually make it less spicy. Also this dal rasam warms the body and is excellent when has bouts of cold, chill and cough. A few more rasam varieties which are good for cough and cold are:

  1. Lemon rasam
  2. Milagu rasam (pepper rasam)
  3. Beetroot rasam

In this paruppu rasam, cooked tuvar dal (arhar dal or pigeon pea lentils) is simmered in a freshly roasted and ground spices with tamarind pulp. So the cooked dal gives some body and texture to this soup and the spices lend their aroma, warmth and flavor. There is also a tang or sourness coming from the tamarind.

The spices are roasted and then ground to a semi coarse or fine powder. Later to be tempered with mustard, curry leaves and dry red chilies along with the freshly ground rasam powder. This tempered mixture is then added to the cooked dal and simmered with tamarind pulp and some water.

You don’t need rasam powder to make this dal rasam. It is best served with some steamed rice. You can drink it plain like a soup also. At home I always serve rasam with steamed rice and a side of vegetable stir fry or poriyal or thoran.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Paruppu rasam

1. To make the rasam powder, in a frying pan take the following ingredients:

  • 2 to 3 dry red chilies
  • 8 to 10 fenugreek seeds
  • ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoon coriander seeds
spices in a frying pan

2. On a low heat, dry roast the spices stirring often till they are fragrant and golden. Ensure that the spices don’t get burnt. Once roasted well then remove the spices in a plate and let them cool at room temperature.

dry roasting spices in a frying pan

3. Once the spices are cooled, then remove the stems from the dry red chillies. Add all the spices to a dry grinder or coffee grinder or spice grinder. Grind these spices to a semi coarse or fine powder. Keep aside.

ground spice powders

4. Soak 1 tablespoon seedless tamarind in ½ cup of hot water for 20 minutes. Later squeeze the tamarind pulp and keep it aside.

tamarind pulp in a bowl

5. In a 2 litre stovetop pressure cooker, cook ½ to ⅓ cup arhar dal (pigeon pea lentils) with 1.5 cups water for 7 to 9 minutes or till they are completely soft and mashable. You can also cook the lentils in an Instant pot adding water as needed.

Note that if you have time then soak the lentils for 20 to 30 minutes prior to cooking them. Soaking lentils make them cook faster. Also remember to use fresh lentils in their shelf life.

cooked lentils in a bowl

6. With a spoon or wired whisk, mash the dal lightly and set aside the mashed lentils.

mashing lentils lightly

Making Paruppu rasam

7. In another pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil. Add 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds and ½ teaspoon split and skinned black gram (urad dal).

mustard seeds and urad dal in a pan

8. Fry on low heat stirring often till the mustard seeds start crackling and the urad dal becomes golden.

frying on low heat

9. Keeping the heat to a low add 10 to 12 curry leaves and 1 to 2 dry red chilies (broken and seeds removed).

curry leaves and dry red chilies added

10. Fry for a few seconds stirring often until the curry leaves looks crisp and red chilies change color. Take care not to burn the spices.

frying curry leaves

11. Now add ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder and 1 pinch of asafoetida (hing). At this point you can switch off the heat if the pan has become too hot.

turmeric powder and asafoetida added

12. Stir and add the roasted ground rasam powder.

added roasted ground rasam powder

13. Stir quickly and add the above-tempered mixture to the dal or add the dal to this mixture.

cooked lentils added to tempered mixture

14. Add the tamarind pulp and stir well.

tamarind pulp added

15. Also add 1 to 2 cups water or add as required.

water added

16. Next add salt as required.

salt added

17. Simmer dal rasam for 7 to 8 minutes or till you see a frothy layer on top on a low or medium heat. The raw aroma of the tamarind also has to go away.

simmering dal rasam

18. Garnish with 2 to 3 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves.

dal rasam garnished with coriander leaves

19. Serve Paruppu rasam hot, plain or with some steamed rice or any South Indian meal of your choice. Refrigerate any leftover for a day only. Best to have this dal rasam on the same day as the taste changes after refrigeration.

dal rasam served in a bowl with rice on side

More rasam varieties

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dal rasam recipe

Paruppu Rasam

Paruppu rasam or dal rasam is a spicy rasam made from pigeon pea lentils or arhar dal. Good for cold & cough.
5 from 10 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Cuisine South Indian
Course Main Course
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 3
Units

Ingredients

Main ingredients

  • ½ or ⅔ cup pigeon pea lentils (tuvar dal or arhar dal)
  • 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
  • ½ teaspoon split and skinned black gram (urad dal) – optional
  • 1 or 2 dry red chilies
  • 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 to 2 cups water or add as required
  • 1 tablespoon seedless tamarind soaked in ½ cup water
  • 10 to 12 curry leaves
  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • salt as required
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons coriander leaves

For dry roasting and then grinding to semi coarse or fine powder

  • 2 to 3 dry red chilies
  • 8 to 10 fenugreek seeds
  • ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 2 teaspoon coriander seeds

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • First take all the whole spices meant to make the rasam powder.
  • On a low heat, dry roast the spices stirring often till they are fragrant and golden. Ensure that the spices don’t get burnt. Once roasted well then remove the spices in a plate and let them cool at room temperature.
  • Once they are cooled, in a dry grinder or coffee grinder, grind these spices to a semi coarse or fine powder. Keep aside.
  • Soak 1 tablespoon seedless tamarind in ½ cup of hot water for 20 minutes. Later squeeze the tamarind pulp and keep aside.
  • In a 2 litre stovetop pressure cooker, cook ½ to ⅓ cup arhar dal (pigeon pea lentils) with 1.5 cups water for 7 to 9 minutes or till they are completely soft and mashable.
  • With a spoon or wired whisk, mash the dal lightly.

making paruppu rasam

  • In another pan, heat oil. Add the mustard seeds and urad dal.
  • Fry on low heat stirring often till the mustard seeds start crackling and the urad dal becomes golden.
  • Keeping the heat to a low add 10 to 12 curry leaves and 1 to 2 dry red chilies (broken and seeds removed). Fry for a few seconds stirring often until the curry leaves looks crisp and red chilies change color. Take care not to burn the spices.
  • Now add the turmeric powder and asafoetida. At this point you can switch off the heat if the pan has become too hot. Stir and add the roasted ground rasam powder.
  • Stir quickly and add the above tempered mixture to the dal or add the dal to this mixture. stir.
  • Add the tamarind pulp. Stir and mix well.
  • Simmer for 7 to 8 minutes or till you see a frothy layer on top on a low or medium heat. The raw aroma of the tamarind also has to go away.
  • Garnish the paruppu rasam with coriander leaves and serve hot, plain or with some steamed rice.

Notes

  • Use lentils that are fresh and not aged. Preferably use unpolished lentils.
  • You can vary the consistency but don’t make it very thin as then the flavor will get diluted.
  • Use fresh spices and not rancid ones.
  • For a faint sweet taste, you can choose to add a bit of jaggery.
  • You can soak the lentils for 20 to 30 minutes prior to cooking them. Soaking lentils make them cook faster.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Paruppu Rasam
Amount Per Serving
Calories 239 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Sodium 400mg17%
Potassium 429mg12%
Carbohydrates 28g9%
Fiber 12g50%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 394IU8%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 40mg200%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 69mg84%
Vitamin E 4mg27%
Vitamin K 5µg5%
Calcium 68mg7%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 550µg138%
Iron 5mg28%
Magnesium 64mg16%
Phosphorus 180mg18%
Zinc 2mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This paruppu rasam post from the blog archives first published in June 2013 has been republished and updated on 19 January 2022.

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Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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18 Comments

  1. Love this recipe. Thank you!!
    Easy and so yumm..

    I tried downloading the app for iphone but couldnt find it. I had it before for sure. Pls help..5 stars

    1. thanks richa. we removed the app as we faced a lot of technical issues due to. the third party company which we used for making the app, was also not cooperative. now all the recipes are on the website.

  2. I love all your recipes and will definitey try this one :). Can I store the ground rasam powder in the fridge for longer period?5 stars

  3. i’ve tried many of your recipes and all turn out really good. the garlic rasam is my favorite rasam, but this dal one is awesome to warm the body now during the cold japan’s winter. =] thank you!

  4. I love this recipe and make it often especially when I am ill, it helps with my chest congestion and cough so much! I was wondering your thoughts on using tamarind concentrate instead of the pulp (sometimes the pulp is hard to find). The directions on the pulp don’t make much sense to me so it’s always been trial and error with the amount to use.5 stars

    1. i haven’t used tamarind concentrate. so i will be unable to tell you how much has to be added. what i suggest is to add water first. then add the tamarind concentrate. just a bit. check the taste and keep on adding in bits, till you get the desired taste. then allow for the rasam to simmer for some minutes till the raw flavors of the tamarind goes away.

  5. All your recipes are awesome. I try your recipes with 100% confidence all the time and it always comes out yum! Thanks for this rasam recipe.