Healing South Indian Tomato & Black Pepper Soup
Nothing is worse than a bad cold! After our wonderful weekend holiday my daughter and I both caught cold. Heavy head and blocked nose kept my daughter awake all night long last night and I was up comforting her. Today we both are tired and groggy. I had some grand cup cake baking plans with a friend but instead I am sitting and sipping some hot tomato pepper soup right now!
Since I was anyway making it, I thought I will share my simple pepper soup recipe with you all. There is no doubt that soups are the best thing to drink when recovering from a cold. The only soup that comes to my mind in such situations is my super easy South Indian style tomato pepper soup. It’s called ‘menasina saaru’ in Kannada which literally means ‘pepper soup’. It’s super easy to make and is guaranteed to make you feel better. It has very simple ingredients, a couple of fresh ripe tomatoes and some spices and you are good to go!
I am not in the best positions to write anymore so here is the recipe of my favorite soup… as I will always be a south Indian at heart! Make this when you or your loved ones need some simple healing soup.
Fresh tomatoes
Some simple spices
Dry roasted pepper and cumin
My favorite soup 
[typography font="Cantarell" size="24" size_format="px" color="#b36f98"]Ingredients:[/typography]
- 2-3 medium tomatoes
- 3-4 garlic cloves
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1-2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tbsp oil
Take 3-4 cups of water in a heavy bottomed vessel. Roughly chop the tomatoes and add it to the water. Add some salt and turmeric and bring it to a boil. Let it simmer slowly.
While the tomatoes are simmering dry roast the black pepper and cumin till fragrant and once cool grind it into coarse powder in a pestle and mortar.
Peel the garlic and lightly crush it.
Heat oil in a pan, add the garlic and fry till golden. Add the pepper cumin powder and turn off the heat.
Add this to the simmering tomato mixture. Continue to boil for 2-3 minutes for all the spices to come together and tomatoes to fall apart. Drink hot!
16 comments :
Fahad Khan (@PharaohKhan) October 6, 2011 10:12AM
I got directed to this page while checking your post on black peppercorns.Anyway,this looks so warm and comforting,and what I really seem to love about this soup is that it can be made in a jiffy.Cooking at home is so much different from cooking at a restaurant,and when at home,who wants to sweat in the kitchen for several hours?
Cannot wait to give this a try!
Chinmayie September 24, 2011 1:45AM
Thank you all! I am feeling a lot better still have a little cough though
Lindsey@Lindselicious September 23, 2011 7:39AM
I hope you feel better soon too! Love how you added cumin in there too.
Cassandra @foodmyfriend September 23, 2011 5:26AM
Such beautiful photography. Hope you feel better soon! Sucks to be sick. I’m sure your beautiful soup helped though. Lots of vitamin C!
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy September 22, 2011 11:40PM
I love that little silver (?) glass you are serving the soup in..beautifully shot. I make tomato soup so often during winters but usually add a spoon of yellow moong dal for more flavor..your recipe with pepper is just perfect to be tried next time.
SchmetterlingWords September 21, 2011 9:33PM
A hearty and comforting soup. Pepper has lot of medicinal values and is recommended against cold. Your soup comes as a tasty way to take them in. Nice pics too. Get well soon
Baker Street September 21, 2011 9:57AM
Hope you feel better soon. I love a hint of cumin in my tomato soup.
Priti September 21, 2011 9:51AM
You made the simple rasam looks so beautiful …love the shots
Nami | Just One Cookbook September 21, 2011 8:03AM
It sounds very simple yet very nice flavor from all the spices. Sounds comforting.
kankana September 21, 2011 5:22AM
Nothing more comforting than a Tomato soup. This looks simple and perfect for bad cold. Hope you and your daughter get well soon!
sreelu September 21, 2011 5:03AM
chinmayee get well soon and tomato soups looks lovely
Sharmilee September 21, 2011 4:54AM
Wow sounds so flavourful and yummy
Luv'n Spoonfuls September 21, 2011 2:25AM
I needed this about a week and a half ago! Oh well…bookmarked for next time. Love the idea of using food as medicine (Mother Nature is the best doctor, yes?)…although this sounds delicious to me even when feeling just fine! Get well soon!
Lee September 20, 2011 9:06PM
Perfect timing! My daughter and I both came down with sniffly noses last night too and this is the perfect antidote. It looks terrific!
Sylvia@Peaches and Donuts September 20, 2011 8:32PM
Get well soon!!!
Saee Koranne-Khandekar September 20, 2011 6:30PM
Awww. I hope you feel better soon!