Raw Mango Rasam

Smoky, Tangy Comfort in a Bowl

Prep Time 10 min
Cook Time 15 min
Serving Size 4
Recipe Type Hob

Raw Mango Rasam is a summer favorite rooted in age-old South Indian traditions. The smoky aroma of flame-roasted mangoes meets the bold kick of freshly ground black pepper, cumin, and garlic, creating a tangy, soul-warming broth. Tempered with coconut oil, mustard seeds, Madras onions, and curry leaves, the rasam is as fragrant as it is flavorful. Pepper—once traded as black gold—shines in this preparation, echoing its centuries-old culinary legacy. Perfect as a light soup or served with rice and ghee, this rasam is both a cooling antidote to summer heat and a celebration of India’s spice heritage.

Ingredients

For the rasam:

1 medium-sized raw mango (preferably totapuri or kilimooku)
1 tsp black pepper (freshly crushed or coarsely ground)
1 tsp cumin seeds
3-4 garlic (optional, lightly crushed)
3-4 green chillies
¼ tsp turmeric powder
½ tsp jaggery – (optional, to balance tanginess)
¼ tsp hing
1 tsp salt
3 cups water
2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

For tempering:

1 tsp mustard seeds
1 – 2 dried red chillies
A few curry leaves
1 to 2 tbsp coconut oil
15 small shallots or Madras onions

Method

Wash the raw mango, wipe and set aside. Apply oil on the raw mango & roast on direct flame of the hob, till it is completely charred. Peel the burnt skin of the mango and set aside.
Roast the green chillies on direct flame. Once partially charred set aside.
Blend the roasted mango and green chillies into a coarse pulp.
In a mortar and pestle (or blender), coarsely grind pepper, cumin, and garlic together.
In a pan, add the mango pulp, crushed pepper-cumin-garlic mix and about 3 cup of water.
Add turmeric, hing, jaggery, coriander leaves and adjust salt.
Let it simmer gently on low flame until it begins to froth for approx. 15 mins. Do not boil.
In a small kadai, heat coconut oil. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.
Add dried red chillies, peeled madras onions and a few curry leaves.
Pour this tempering over the rasam and immediately cover for a few minutes to trap the aroma. Serve hot with rice with dollop of ghee.

Did you know?

Once worth its weight in gold, black pepper led explorers like Vasco da Gama to India! Native to Kerala’s Malabar Coast, it still spices up everything from rasam to stir-fries. Even the British soup Mulligatawny traces back to its bold flavour!

Find out more about the history and tradition of the dish

In India, ragi has been found in archaeological excavations dating back to 1800 BC, and has been associated with honouring poets with a concoction of ragi, milk, and honey.

Read

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