AvarekaaLu Saaru/Surti Lilva Rasam

What is better than your Brother-in-law visiting? - having a BIL who loves to cook! what is better than having a BIL who loves to cook? - a BIL who drags your husband into the kitchen for helping and gives you a day off.. :)

My BIL, Praveen, is a wonderful cook and is an avid learner of South Canara cooking. He follows recipes authentically and what’s more, gives exact proportions of the ingredients; unlike my mother whose proportions are always half palmful, quarter palmful, small tamarind ball, one closed fist.... which I never get right most of the time :)

He cooked avareKaalu Saaru when he visited us last winter. It was so mouthwateringly delicious. And it so happened that, that day god blessed us with perfect weather - rainy and cloudy - to savor this rasam!

This spicy, garlicky rasam is a treat for any day.

Ingredients

avarekaaLu(surti lilva) - 1 frozen packet

for masala

dhaniya - 2 tsp

jeera - 1 tsp

6 - byadagi menasu(red chillies)

menthe(methi seeds) - 1/4 tsp

curry leaves 

for tadka

mustard

garlic - 8 pods

curry leaves

hing

Method

Pressure cook avarekaalu with some salt, turmeric and jaggery(optional)

Fry 'for masala'' ingredients making sure that they don’t burn.

Grind it with some cooked avarekaalu and coconut

In a pot add cooked avarekaaLu, then ground masala. Adjust salt and water and boil.

Make tadka with mustard. Add garlic pods and fry till golden brown. Add curry leaves. Add this mixture to the avarekaaLu saaru. Savor with hot rice.

Recipe Source - Praveen (http://southcanaracooking.blogspot.com/)

Edited to add - It tastes better next day