Neem is well known for its medicinal properties. It has been used in Ayurveda since a long time. Every part of the neem tree including bark, leaves, fruits, roots, flowers is beneficial to our health. Neem flower has many medicinal properties.The flowers are used in treating intestinal worms. They are said to purify blood and remove toxins from the body. It has the ability to improve the immune system. It also has cooling properties.The flowers can be dried and stored for many months. Though neem flower has a bitter taste, this rasam will be very delicious and you will not feel the bitterness. In India, it is easily available everywhere.This rasam is usually prepared during Tamil New Year. When this humble neem flower has so much health benefits, why not include it in our diet at least once in a fortnight.
Vepam Poo Rasam-How to make Vepam Poo Rasam
Prep Time : 5 mins
Cook Time : 20 mins
Serves: 3-4
Recipe Category: Rasam-Soup
Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
Author:Padhu Sankar
Serves: 3-4
Recipe Category: Rasam-Soup
Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
Author:Padhu Sankar
Ingredients needed
Tamarind – small gooseberry sized ball
Dried neem flowers -2 tsp
Red chillies – 4 (break the chillies into 2 pieces)
Tur dal – 1 tsp
Hing – a pinch
Curry leaves – a sprig
Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
Jaggery powder -1/2 tsp
Ghee or oil for frying neem flowers – 1 tsp
Salt needed
For the seasoning
Ghee – 1 tsp
Mustard seeds – 3/4 tsp
Curry leaves – a sprig
For garnishing
Finely chopped coriander leaves
Preparation
Soak tamarind in 1 1/2 cup warm water and extract it juice. Discard the pulp.
Method
Take tamarind water in a vessel, add tur dal (uncooked), hing, turmeric powder, salt and curry leaves.
Heat 1/4 tsp of oil and fry the red chillies and add to the above.
Now boil the tamarind water with all the ingredients on low flame until the raw flavor of the tamarind goes.
Then add 1 3/4 – 2 cups of water or thin dal water, jaggery and heat until froth starts forming at the top. Do not boil the rasam. Switch off the flame.
Heat 1 tsp of ghee, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add curry leaves and pour it over the rasam.
Heat another tsp of ghee and fry the neem flower on low flame until they turn reddish brown. (Do not burn the flowers). Now add the fried neem flowers to the rasam.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot with steamed rice or just have it as a medicinal soup.
Find a variety of South Indian Rasam Recipes
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View Comments (17)
My favorite rasam... Love ur click
healthy rasam..nice presentation
Super delicious !! looks so inviting !!
Healthy rasam,seriously love it very much,eventhough everyone at home hate it to the core.
Awesome recipe. . Will try dis weekend. . ;)
Would love to have it with rice.....very nice
This is the favorite Rasam in our family. love your presentation
Healthy and simple too, right up my street, thanks.
Such a healthy recipe...
Padhu, my Tamilian neighbour had taught us another way of eating these flowers. Take little ghee warm it, add about half spoon veypam poo and fry for a few seconds. Add this flower to hot cooked rice add little salt and eat it. I believe it relieves you of all the worms in the stomach.