Beetroot Rasam

Beetroot Rasamis can be a starter like soup or you can have it with plain rice. This is one of my old recipe and try to update with pics and some information too. I am adding a tip given by shivuH who is my follower and a friend I can say. I have cooked the beetroot with its skin and then removed the outer of beet just like potato. It is easy and good too. Remember to soak the whole beet in normal water for at least 20 minutes. It helps to reduce the chemical which is used while growing beet.
When you feel like having something different, healthy and energetic you can think of making this Beetroot Rasam.

It is easy to prepare as I always say about my recipes are easy. It is healthy I can say since beetroot contain many many healthy qualities.I have used very little toor dal which is protein content. Spices are usually at home and M. T. R. or Mayya's Rasam powder is best to use to get good aroma and proper rasam taste.
Lets see some benefits of having Beetroot in our diet:
Beetroot decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart diseases. It also helps to promote a healthy complexion and hair. It helps in providing good energy. Beetroot helps to maintain the blood pressure and good for digestion. It helps to control the blood sugar level and good for anemia. It reduces the bad cholesterol. It is high in soluble fiber and eases the constipation problems. It also helps to boost brain power. Beetroots contain potassium, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, iron, vitamins A, B, C, beta carotene, beta cyanine, folic acid. They are a wonderful tonic for the liver and works as a purifier for the blood.

Lets see the recipe now :

Things Needed :

To Cook :
Beetroot : 1
Toor Dal : 2 Tablespoons
To : Grind :
Cooked Beetroot:
Rasam Powder : 2 Tablespoons
Ingh : a little
To Add
Water : 2 to 3 Cups
Mustard seeds and Urid dal Seasing : 1 Teaspoon oil or ghee, mustard seeds, urid dal (1/2 Teaspoon each), curry leaves and ingh
Coriander leaves " 2 Tablespoon
Curry leaves : 6 to 8 (to the seasoning)
Ingh : a pinch
Turmeric powder : a little (1/4 Teaspoon)
Tamarind pulp : a small marble size tamarind
Salt : as required
Methi seeds : 1/4 Teaspoon
Green chilly : 1 

Method : 

1. Wash and pressure cook, toor dal and beetroot with its skin for 6 to 8 minutes.(Keep beetroot separately in a bowl). Leave it for cooling.

2. Soak tamarind in hot water and squeeze out the pulp and keep it aside.
3. Remove the outer layer of beetroot (like potato skin), and cut it in to small pieces.
4. Now grind beet pieces with rasam powder and remove from the mixi jar.

5. Take a big pan and add cooked toor dal (just mash it a little before adding water), ground beetroot mixture, tamarind pulp.
6. Add 2 to 3 cups of water and salt. Add, Cut green chilly, methi seeds and turmeric powder. Mix it well and bring it to boil.

7. Add muster-urid dal, curry leaves and ingh seasoning with ghee or oil. Shift the Beetroot rasam to a serving dish.
8. Add cut coriander leaves and serve Beetroot rasam as soup or with plain rice as one of the side dish.

Home made Rasam Powder recipe :

Roast  1/4 tea spoon of methi, 2 table spoons coriander seeds, 6 to 8 red chillies and 1/2 tea spoon of jeera  one by one till brown. Add pinch of ingh and curry leaves and roast . Dry grind when the mixture turns cool.

Note : 

Adding garlic is optional. (Beetroot rasam goes well with fried garlic). I have not used. Using ghee is optional. Adding moong dal instead of toor dal is also an optional. Adding water to the rasam (thick or thin) is also optional. Mashing cooked dal helps rasam to get good binding.Adding green chilly gives good aroma. Adding any brand of rasam powder is optional.

Serves : 4 to 5
Time : 30 minutes.

Baadam ( Almond) Milk.

Badam/Almonds are always nuts and it helps to keep our skin healthy and take care of our health too.
Badam (Almond ) Milk is a refreshing drink and it helps you to be strong and energetic whole day.
I have used Almonds, cardamom, Saffron, Sugar and Milk.

Let us see the recipe Now:

Things Needed :

Almonds : 10 to 15 
Cadamom : 4 to 6 pods.
Milk: 1/2 Litre.
Kesar ( Saffron ) : 2 to 3 rakes.
Sugar : 2 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Soak Almonds in hot water for 10 minutes and remove its outer skin. Keep it aside.

2. Remove the skin of cardamom and add with almonds and grind it together with little water.

3. Keep milk for boiling. Cool the milk once it is boiled.
4. Soak 3 to 4 rakes of saffron in 2 tablespoons of hot milk. (Dissolve it after 2 minutes).
5. Now Put ground almonds in a bowl and boil for 2 minutes.
6. Add sugar to boiling almond mixture. Let it cool.

7. Now mix almond - saffron mixture with cooled milk and mix it well.

8. Serve cool " Badam Milk " in a hot summer day.

9. Keeping this Badam Milk in a refrigerator is optional. (Adding ice cube also optional).

Note: 

You can Dry grind cardamom and almonds (without removing the skin) and store it in a dry place and use it whenever you want. But you will not get the fresh aroma. (optional). Adding rock sugar (kallu sakkare) instead of sugar is a healthy habit. Use of sugar in hot summer helps you to get energy. You can use more milk but taste differ.
Time : 15 Minutes
Serves: 3 to 4 glasses.