20 September, 2014
Dried Neem flower soup (Veppam poo rasam)
Today I bring you a very traditional recipe, a treasured recipe from my mother. A very healthy soup or rasam made with dried neem flowers. I have not seen neem flowers sold anywhere outside India. Neem is known for its therapeutic (antibiotic, anti-diabetic) properties and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times.
The dried flowers can be bought in herb shops in India. My mom just collects flowers falling off a neem tree in the yard of our house, cleans them and dries them in the sun. How simple! She gets me a packet of this whenever she gets to visit me. “Make this at least once a month, it is a good for the digestive system”. I have always liked this ‘rasam’ (‘ras’ in Sanskrit, meaning extract) that is traditionally eaten in our home mixed with rice in the main course, but I love it just as a soup, slightly bitter, sour and tangy!
Taking this soup to folks at Fiesta Friday #34 hosted by Selma and Elaine.
Neem flower rasam
Ingredients:
Neem flowers- 2 tbsp.
tamarind- a small amount (or 1/2 tbsp. tamarind paste)
tomato- 1 medium
red chilly- 1 or 2
asafoetida powder- a pinch
salt- to taste
water- 2-3 cups
ghee (clarified butter)- 1 tsp.
mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp.
Method:
* Extract juice from tamarind by soaking it in warm water and squeezing it out.
* Add mustard seeds to ghee in a pan, wait till they sputter. Then add red chilly and neem flowers and roast gently on low heat till an aroma develops.
* Add finely chopped tomato, water, tamarind paste (or extract from whole tamarind), asafoetida powder. Let it come to a boil.
* Lower the heat and let it come to a boil one more time.
* Serve warm.
Note:
* A small amount of well-mashed, cooked lentils (toor or split pigeon peas) may be added to make this a more filling soup.
* Some curry leaves can be added for more flavor.
28 thoughts on : Dried Neem flower soup (Veppam poo rasam)
This is one of the best rasam and my mom used to prepare this often as my dad loves it 🙂
Was the same in my house too!
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I have never heard of these flowers but they sure sound amazing and such incredible healing properties. Too bad they don’t have them here!
Yes, Brandi, I wish too that they were available here. I think soon enough we may see it on some online source…hopefully!
Yes, you reminded me of my mom’s rasam 🙂
One of the big advantages of blogging, I suppose. 🙂
With all the health benefits of neem, this rasam must be so nutritious!
Yes, I love it! 🙂
I’ve heard of Neem but never knew the flowers are used in cooking. The soup sounds great. 🙂
so unique.. reminded me of neem leaves crisped fries that we use to have with steamed rice,,
That’s true! We make that too, I love to have the shallow-fried neem flowers. 🙂
true sometimes with diced pumpkins and hint of sugar
Wow lovely healthy flavoursome soup/rasam…
How interesting, I have never heard of Neem before and your soup sounds so delicious!
thanks, Petra!
I haven’t heard of neem before, but this sounds wonderful!
it sure is…thanks, Nell!
I have never had this. Im curious now!
Hmm, is neem is not used even in Karnataka and Maharashtra? Must be TN/Kerala ayurvedic practice…
Oh wow – this sounds so delicious – I must look for neem flowers in the Indian shops when I go next. Thank you so much for sharing this family classic with us at Fiesta Friday, Apsara! Have a wonderful week!
Glad you like it, Selma. But I doubt that you’ll find it, let me know if you do! That would be really nice if you can find it somewhere.
Its been ages since I had neem flower. Have tasted pachadi with jaggery and shallow fried In ghee but this s new to me.. Would love to try
Yes, I just love the neem in our Tamil new year pachadi…so good!
Wow…so you get home picked neem flowers! I have heard neem tree is very medicinal. I have not tried this rasam but at home I have a neem tree and must start collecting its flowers and try this.
You do? Lovely! A tip… just spread a big sheet of cloth or news paper under the tree when the blossoms fall, that’s how we do it.
A very tasty looking interesting soup for me! I Will try it out soon, xx
Glad you’re back Sophie! xx