Vegan Recipes: Rasam (South Indian Split Pea Soup)

Ingredients

• 6 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp. cumin powder
• 1 tsp. black peppercorns
• 1-6 fresh green chiles (serranos are good), thickly sliced
• 1 Tbsp. mustard oil or canola oil
• 2 tsp. black mustard seed
• 1 tsp. cumin seed
• 3 cups water
• 1 tsp. turmeric
• 1/2 cup toor dal or yellow split peas
• 1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes, pulsed briefly in a blender to mince
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. tamarind concentrate OR juice of one lemon
• chopped cilantro (coriander leaves) for garnish