Thakkali Rasam ~ (Pepper & Tomato Sour Soup)

Another from the Rick Stein India book.....with some adaptations.....

Its a delicious sour soup which goes very well as a side dish. It is also extremely easy to make!

Ingredients:
1 tbsp ghee (or 25g unsalted butter and 1tbsp sunflower oil)
1 tsp black/ brown/ red mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 dried kashmiri chilli, broken/ ripped into pieces
1 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp asafoetida
1 tsp curry leaf powder or small handful fresh curry leaves
4 large tomatoes, chopped (or can of quality plum tomatoes with some chopped baby plum fresh tomatoes)
3 green chillies chopped
3cm root ginger, very finely chopped
3 tbsp red lentils
50 ml tamarind liquid
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp salt
500ml water
Handful coriander chopped to garnish

Method:
Heat ghee/ oil over medium heat. Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and Kashmiri chillies - fry until the mustard seeds pop.
Stir in the black pepper and asafoetida, fry for 30 secs, then add the curry leaf powder/ curry leaves, tomatoes, green chillies, ginger, red lentils, tamarind, turmeric, salt and water and simmer for 20-25mins or until lentils are tender.
Garnish with chopped coriander. Serve.