Tomato Soup for Rice | Thakkali Soup Kuzhambu | Tomato Masala Dhal

Tomato Soup for Rice | Thakkali Soup Kuzhambu | Tomato Masala Dhal  is a specialty from Chettinad cuisine | Karaikudi region. Don’t mistake this recipe for a soup. It is like a soup to be run down with rice. This is prepared using moong dhal with lots of tomatoes & green chillies needed to spice up. The consistency of this dish resembles soup but little spicier than soup and hence called as “soup kuzhambu”. It tastes divine when had with hot, mashed, steamed rice & some spicy fry as side. So you need to follow the below steps to enjoy this soup kuzhambu to the core.

• Cook rice until soft, that is little bit mushy.
• Take a deep plate or bowl, add the hot steamed rice, mash it a bit, add some generous amount of this soup, combine everything and have it hot with urulaikizhangu fry &
• Slurppp...:)

Though the preparation is quite simple, this meal combo gives a great satisfaction like a festive meal.

Going to the recipe...

Ingredients:

• Moong dhal | Green gram dhal | Paasi paruppu – ½ cup
• Onion (finely chopped) – 1 No.
• Green chillies (slit into 2) – 2 Nos.
• Tomatoes medium (chopped) – 1 Nos
• Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
• Salt – to taste

For Seasoning:

• Oil – 1 tbsp
• Bay leaf | Brinji ilai – 1 No.
• Cinnamon – 1” piece
• Kal Paasi – 1 piece
• Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
• Curry leaves – few
• Onion (finely chopped) – 1 No.
• Green chillies (slit into 2) – 3 Nos.
• Tomatoes medium (chopped) – 2 Nos

Method:

1. Wash moong dhal and cook with a cup of water & turmeric powder in a broad vessel.
2. When dhal is 3/4^th done, add the finely chopped onion,  green chillies & chopped tomato as given in the “ingredients” list . Add one more cup of water, mix everything well and allow to boil for 5 minutes.
3. In a kadai, heat oil and season the items given "for seasoning".
4. To this add the slit green chillies, sauté for a while. Then add the chopped onions, sauté till it becomes glossy and releases a nice aroma. Finally add the chopped tomatoes and cook till mushy.
5. Transfer the above seasoning to the dhal+ tomato mixture. Add salt, adjust consistency by adding required water & give a good stir. Allow everything to boil together for 5 minutes and switch off.

Flavourful, tasty thakkali soup is ready to enjoy with hot steamed rice...I always like to enjoy this tomato soup with Chettinad potato fry...

Note:

• This recipe strictly needs the moong dhal to be cooked in a open vessel. Don’t pressure cook.
• You may increase the quantity of dhal but it will give a thick soup. Adjust accordingly.
• You need to split up onions, green chillies & tomatoes to cook with dhal as well as for seasoning.

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