Pineapple fruit Image via Wikipedia

In South India medicine is considered as food and food is consumed as medicine. Pineapple or Ananas comosus (botanical name) is the well known medicinal herb from India. In Tamil it is called Annasi. The plant is well known for its tart taste. The fruit has goo quantity of Vitamin C and manganese. It has its own medicinal properties.

Pineapple rasam is one such medicinated rasam often prepared in the households in South India. Pineapple comprise proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which breaks down protein. It cures some intestinal disorders. It has got very good for nutritional value.

Ingredients

1) Toor (red gram) Dal – ½ cup
2) Asafoetida (powdered) – a pinch
3) Black pepper- 3/4 teaspoon
4) Coriander chopped – 1 1/2 tablespoon
5) Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
6) Curry leaves – 1 teaspoon
7) Lemon – 1 big or 2 small
Mustard – ½ teaspoon
9) Pineapple – 4 slices
10) Rasam Powder
11) Salt, – to taste
12) Sugar – to taste
13) Tamarind – small ball
14) Toamto medium size – I number
15) Urad dal – ½ teaspoon
16) Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon
17) Water – as required

Method

1) Pressure cook toor dal with turmeric powder
2) Mash the cooked toor dal into a fine consistency and keep it aside.
3) Soak little tamarind with small quantity of water till the pulp gets softened. Once soft squeeze tamarind and make it in to a thick consistency. Filter it in a sieve and keep it aside.
4) Add the rasam masala powder, asafoetida, salt and tamarind paste together. With this add about 2 cups of water.
5) Boil this liquid till the raw smell of the ingredients gets vanished
6) Take tomato and chop into fine pieces and add it to rasam liquid
7) Take the mashed the dal and stir well and add this to the above liquid. Add water to make the rasam in to the desired consistency. Allow it to boil.
Cut pineapple to very small pieces. Add the fruit to the boiling rasam liquid. Allow it to boil for three more minutes.
9) Heat oil or ghee in a pan. Add mustard seeds and allow them to splutter and add some asafetida, chopped coriander and curry leaves. Pour seasoned ingredients to rasam
10) Once it boils with bubbles remove the vessel from the stove.
11) Now garnish with chopped coriander and curry leaves.
12) If you wish you may add one spoon of fresh pineapple juice
13) Now your hot steaming Pineapple rasam is ready.
14) Serve it hot with steaming plain white rice. You may also serve rasam in cups. It will provide refreshed feeling.