KEY STORY
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While the nation still fights with the second wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic, people need to boost their immunity to protect themselves from the deadly virus. Eating healthy food with immunity boosting qualities is one of the ways by which people can ensure that their immune system is ready to tackle Covid-19.
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Rasam made with immunity boosting ingredients like garlic, tamarind and curry leaves, among other things, is not only good for the gut, but also tastes delicious. For today’s segment of Build Your Immunity to Fight Covid, we got in touch with a practising dietician, Priyanka Singh.
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She suggests a delicious Rasam recipe from Indian spices that are easily available in our kitchen to help strengthen our immune system. The recipe requires minimal ingredients like tamarind pulp, tomato, curry leaves, garlic and black pepper. This rasam recipe doesn’t have lentils as one of the main ingredients.
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INGREDIENTS (Serves:1)
Tamarind pulp – 1 table spoon
Tomato – 1 (chopped)
Curry leaves – 10-12
Black pepper – 1-2 tablespoons
Garlic – 4-5 cloves
Turmeric powder (Haldi) – half teaspoon
Dry red chilli – 2
Salt – to taste
Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
Hing – half teaspoon
Coriander leaves – 1 tablespoon (freshly chopped)
Oil – 1 tablespoon
Mustard seeds – 1 teaspoon
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HOW TO MAKE
Dry roast 2 red chilli, black-pepper, cumin seeds, garlic and 4-5 curry leaves and coarsely grind them in a mixer. Keep the mixture aside. Take a kadhai and heat oil and add chopped tomatoes, the rest of the curry leaves, haldi and some salt and cook for 3-4 minutes. Now add the coarsely ground masala and mix well. Add the tamarind pulp and 2 cups of water. Close the lid and let it simmer for at least 10 minutes. In another pan, add some oil (or ghee). After the oil heats up, put mustard seeds, 1 red chilli and hing and temper them till the seeds start crackling. Now add the tempered spices in the kadhai. Switch off the flame and garnish with freshly chopped coriander leaves. Sprinkle some black pepper powder.
You can have plain Rasam or can have it with boiled rice in lunch.
BENEFITS
The ingredients used in making the Rasam are known for their immunity-boosting qualities. Tamarind, haldi or turmeric and curry leaves are considered beneficial with anti-fungal qualities. As for garlic, its benefits for the immune system are world known. It combats sickness including the common cold.
