Alasandalu/Bobbarla charu / Red/Cow peas soup

Ingredients :

Alasandalu/ Bobbarlu / Black eyed red peas/ Cow peas : 2 cups

Oil : 1 tbsp

Dry red chillies : 3

Mustard seeds : 1 tsp

cumin seeds : 1 tsp

ginger garlic paste : 1/2 tsp

corriander seeds : 2 tsp

cardamom pod : 1

cinamom : 1' stick

cloves : 2

red chilli powder : 1/4 tsp

tamarind : Key lime size

onions : 1/4 cup chhopped into thin long slices

green chillies : 2 no chopped

turmeric : 1/4 tsp

salt : as per taste

curry leaves : few

corriander leaves : 1/4 cup chopped

Wash and soak the bobbarlu/ cow peas in water over night. Next morning cook the peas with little extra water until they are tender. Alternatively u can pressure cook in a pressure cooker for two whistles. Now drain out the excess water into another bowl. Do not throw this away as we are doing the soup with this water only!.

Now add in the tamarind to the liquid. Grind the corriander seeds,cardamom, cloces and cinamom stick into a fine owder and keep aside. In a nonstick vessel heat the oil and add the mustard seeds,cumin seeds, dry red chillies,curry leaves, green chillies and turmeric. Add in the onions and ginger garlic paste. Keep mixing in order to avoid burning at the bottom. Now add the ground mixture, red chilli powder,corriander leaves and salt. Mix once and add in the liquid along with tamarind. Cook for 15 minutes until it boils and emits out nice aroma. Switch off the stove and serve with plain rice.