Tomato-Coconut Rasam

500 gms ripe tomatoes
1/2 coconut scraped and soaked in 1/2 cup warm water
a piece of cinnamon
2-3 cloves
10- 12 whole black pepper
3-4 garlic cloves
a sprig of curry leaves
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
asefotida
turmeric powder
2-3 dried red chillies
salt to taste
sugar to taste
( Optional) 1 tsp oil
Boil tomatoes in enough water to cook them thoroughly with garlic 6 to 8 whole black pepper clove and cinnamon.When cooked cool and puree in a blender. Remove as much milk from the coconut as you can. Heat oil and add the remaining black pepper and cumin.Let it splutter, add red chilli broken in 2-3 pieces,curry leaves,asefotida and turmeric powder.

Add the tomato puree and bring it to a boil.Lower the heat and let it simmer for 5/10 minutes. Add salt and sugar.Now add the coconut milk and on low flame let it come to a gentle boil. Drink as a very unsual soup or serve with rice.