Fun-filled, traumatic, joyous, troublesome, boring, cruel, pleasing, satisfying, challenging, tempting, misleading - yes Life is full of 'em - that is why life is so very SPECIAL - and yet the thrill is in "living" life! And all the accompanying ordeals are the frills attached with the thrills.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Rasam for the soul

"Chicken soup for the soul" is one of my favourite series - though most stories relate to the culture in America. I had also read a couple of blogs on the net which goes like "Vegetarian chicken soup for the soul" or something similar to that. Yes, rasam seems to be our very own chicken soup. I got a real feel of this wonder medicine last week. Having got drenced in the drizzle one evening, the next day seemed very sick - my body was aching and I felt heavy on the head (no, please don't mistake it for 'head weight'). I generally prefer not to take allopathic medicines and therefore shun any tablets for headache, cold which give instant relief - instead I leave the cold/headache to settle by itself or take home made remedies. That day, being at office, I did not have access to the home made kashaayams. But for lunch, my mom had packed rasam saadham (rice with rasam) and after I had it, by evening things became normal. Wow! I was truly amazed. No wonder, conventional remedy during fever/cold recommends a diet with rasam and it does the trick too! Maybe the cumin, mustard, pepper, chillies in the rasam do the trick.

Rasam is one of the seemingly simple recipes but it definitely requires some kind of kai manam to induce that real taste and flavour in it; and to add to it are the vast number of the variations... I had always envied the paruppu rasam of my mom's. The aroma would fill the whole house. How much ever I tried, I could never get that taste when I made it myself. There is also this sharp distinction between rasam made at a vegetarian home and a non-vegetarian home. I love both though! Rasam with paruppu usili is my favorite combo and so are rasam-potato fry and rasam-potato chips.

Hail rasam!!

19 comments:

simplemissie said...

Never knew Rasam was called VEGETARIAN CHICKEN SOUP..hahaha!....Good one, my brother has been coughing for a while now,I'll suggest mamma to prepare Rasam....My heartfelt thanks for suggestion I got today from an angelic Blog voice...and next time I have a cold I'll try ur chicken soup instead of wasting money on doctors

Soumya

Ravi said...

'Angelic blog voice'... ha ha, Soumya, that sounds really flattering! Anyway, good that you got some tip. Yes, anyday home-made remedies are worth a try instead of the other painful and side-effect ridden treatment. Wish a speedy recovery to your bro.

Ravi said...

Veda,
On reading "warm poondu/milagu rasam", I could literally smell the aroma :-) Yes they are still the best medicines for cold.

Illa Veda, busy ellaam onnum illa. Infact I keep reading other blogs. Unga blog-la comment panliyae thavira, I visit it everyday. Thanks for not forgetting my blog ;-)

Jeevan said...

My mom also give me rasam satham when i was affected by cold or fever, i too like rasam and potato chips. hope u are fine now.

Ravi said...

Jeevan,
Welcome! Thanks for coming by. Yes, the rasam did the trick on that very day. I was okay by evening.

Anonymous said...

That's a nice take, on " Rasam and the subtle variations we get to taste "

Rasam with potato chips...Mmmm !
Ravi, I would say it's the ultimate combo I can think of ,with the Monsoon weather in Bangalore..:)

Ravi said...

Lera,
Thanks! Being a great cook yourself, I know you'll appreciate this rasam-p.chips combo and with Bangalore monsoon weather... I can imagine!

Anonymous said...

Jeez,
What a co-incidence. Two different 'Ravi's' but one thing in common - a love of RASAM!
Give me it anyday, man!
Cheers,
Ravi

Ravi said...

Hi Ravi (hmm.. this IS strange!!)
Thanks for coming by. I had visited your blog (thru' mentalcentral) but never posted a comment. Seeing your comment with 'Ravi' on it, I thought maybe my blog was hijacked :-) but then realised my blog isn't that popular to be hijacked. Keep visiting Ravi.

Viewer said...

Me too luv the peppr -garlic rasam my mom maks :(

Ravi said...

Deepa, where on earth have you been? Btw, belated birthday wishes :-) And thanks for not forgetting!

Balaji S Rajan said...

Ravi do you know that there lot of people are rasam favourites. Cricketer Srikanth said in one of the interviews that he likes Rasam. I love to make Rasam. Though my favorite is Sambar, I make good Mysore Thakkali Rasam, and Poondu Rasam. Rasam with Arisi appalam make a good combination. Pour half a glass of Araichu Vitta rasam in Curd rice and taste it. Oh...god it will be Yummy.

Ravi said...

Hello Balaji Sir,
Rasam with arisi appalam... hmmm... I can imagine!!! The appalam should be half soaked and half crispy, yum... Though I can take sambhar in almost any form, I am very specific about rasam - it has to be in the taste I like (be it any rasam). Somehow I find pineapple rasam (which is catching up in restaurants and feasts these days) to be yucky. Thanks for coming by.

Syam said...

pasikuthu...I need rasam with vathal imdly :-)

Ravi said...

Hi Syam,

Thanks for coming by. Btw, unga profile write-up is too good. Azhaga Tamizh-la, comedy-a ezhuthirukeenga!!

Rasam, vathal.. hmmmm... naan vena US-kku parcel anuppattumaa??

Balaji S Rajan said...

Ravi,

Your post tempted me to make Araichu Vittu Poondu Rasam on sunday. We thought about you and had it.

Ravi said...

Balaji Sir, that's so nice of you (to have remembered me)! Thanks :-) but where's my share ;-)??

simplemissie said...

New post ravi...plzzzz...plzzz...plzzzz

Anonymous said...

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