Chaaru, a light tangy preparation using tamarind, tomatoes and coriander. A spice powder is used to provide the required depth. This works as an appetizer as well. There are many variations to these as well, add more pepper powder and it adds more heat and works when one has a cold. Add more jaggery and makes it tangy and sweet. Add curry leaves and gives it a different flavor. So on and so forth.

I have included the spice powder recipe as well here followed by the chaaru recipe. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Spice powder ingredients

• Coriander seeds – 1 cup
• Toor dal – 1/2 cup
• Chana dal – 2 tbsp
• Black pepper – 1 tbsp
• Jeera – 1 tbsp
• Methi – 1 tsp

Recipe

• Heat and pan and slowly roast toor dal, chana dal, black pepper and methi on low flame until lightly roasted.
• Let these cool
• Use unroasted coriander seeds and jeera
• Add all these to a blender and grind to a smooth powder

Chaaru Ingredients

• Chaaru spice powder – 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Tomato ripe medium sized – 1
• Tamarind – 1 tsp (adjust to taste based on quality)
• Water – 3.5 cups
• Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp
• Grated jaggery – 1 tbsp
• Salt – to taste

Tempering

• Oil – 1 tsp
• Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
• Jeera – 1/4 tsp
• Hing – pinch

Recipe

• Chop tomato into inch sized pieces.
• Soak tamarind in a couple of tbsp of water and squeeze the paste of it
• Add tamarind paste, tomato pieces, spice powder and turmeric to the water and heat up
• Boil until the tomato pieces turn soft
• Add salt to taste, grated jaggery and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes
• Taste and adjust salt to taste
• Once all tastes good, turn off flame, add chopped coriander leaves and cover with a plate
• Prepare the tempering by heating up oil in a small pan
• Once it is hot enough, add in mustard seeds and wait for them to pop
• Add jeera and hing and add this to chaaru
• Chaaru can be had as it is or with rice as well.

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