Garlic pepper Rasam shots is one of the appetisers I make as an appetiser for small parties along with Oats Masala Chaas. Moving away from sugary drinks and colas was a decision we made as a family many years ago. And am glad we took that stand. As of now, the kids seem to be in sync with the idea, and Rasam is a great dish to make for the kids as they huge rasam fans !
More Rasam varieties on the blog:
Tomato Onion Rasam
Mysore Rasam
Vettalai Rasam (Betel leaves Rasam)
Garlic Rasam (Poondu Rasam)
Jeeraga Milagu Rasam (Cumin-pepper Spicy Rasam)
Poricha Rasam (Spiced lentil rasam)
Tomato Rasam
This garlic pepper rasam shot is highly sought after by my elder kid who’s into spicy, tangy food given her age.
For Garlic (and rasam) lovers, this is a combo they will keep coming back to. You can sip this as a broth, or even eat it with hot rice, ghee and roasted papad as a welcome change from a heavy diet or when are back from a long trip.
Either way, it’s sure to tantalise your tastebuds and now, let’s get get to the recipe.

Make sure to make it overnight and consume the next day as the flavours steep in really well after a few hours.
Prep time - 15 Mins, cook time - 10 Mins , serves -3
Garlic pepper Rasam shots - vegan, gluten-free appetiser / broth.
PIN FOR LATER

You need:
Tamarind- 1 large gooseberry size soaked in hot water for 1 hour.
Garlic pods (large) - 10 nos
Black pepper - 1 tsp
Jeera / cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Red chillies - 2
Oil - ½ tsp
Ghee - ½ teaspoon (replace with oil if vegan)
Mustard seeds - ¼ tsp
Salt - to taste
Hot water - 2 cups (240 ml)
Jaggery - 1 teaspoon (grated)
How to:
- In a mortar pestle, crush the garlic pods. In Alan, dry roast cumin , red chillies and black pepper for exactly 45 secs. Cool and semi coarsely grind it. Extract the tamarind juice (about 1 cup), mix In the hot water , ½ teaspoon salt, jaggery and heat in a pan till raw smell disappears.
- Sauté the crushed garlic in ghee till it browns well and add to the boiled tamarind water, after 2 mins add the spice powder mix.
- Check for salt and spices. The broth must be watery and mustn’t thicken.
- Switch off. Make tempering with oil and mustard seeds. Add to the broth. Serve hot
- If making ahead and storing, make sure to reheat in small portions just before serving else the flavours will be lost. You may add a dash of chopped coriander leaves but I left it out as my kids don’t like that in their broth.





Priya Iyer says
Simple recipe for a super flavourful rasam. Love the idea of serving it in shot glasses. 🙂
Rafeeda AR says
Please pass me a couple of glasses... say 'rasam' and I am flat! Love the idea of serving it like shots...
Rafeeda AR says
I can have rasam any time of the day! Those shots look majorly tempting...
Shobha says
I love trying out variations of rasam.. my favourite
Superduper kitchen says
Rasam is my all time fav and comforting food. I love the flavour in garlic rasam.
cookwithrenu says
Love rasam and this one looks super inviting. With garlic and pepper in one I can say my type of rasam 🙂
Sujata Roy says
Wow you have a great collection of rasam. This garlic pepper rasam sounds flavourful and lip-smacking. Superb share.
Vidya Narayan says
Poondu Rasam, a dollop of ghee and steamed rice - Sheer Bliss! I am looking forward to Monsoons now to enjoy this at home with papadam on the side. Shots are a great idea when serving to guests given that our humble rasam is more popular as soup.
Mayuri Patel says
Kalyani this definitely would be a perfect shot for colds and chesty coughs. It definitely would open up the nose and bring relief. I didn't know that one could make rasam without lentils or lentil water.
Vanitha says
So lip smacking dear I love to use garlic in my rasams too....a wonderful hue to any garlic lover! Looks so amazing I could slurp on it as a soup and with rice too!
Paarul says
Rasam recipe looks super inviting.Would be great with pipping hot steamed rice or just to have it a glassful !
Swati says
I and hubby love to have rasam,so comforting.this sounds like a treat for garlic lovers .. addition of garlic must have taken the taste of rasam to another level
Poonam Bachhav says
Love the garlic taste in the rasam. Piping hot rasam is all I need on a winter evening !
mildly indian says
Right now I am having a flu and wish i had this rasam shot to have. such a flavourful recipe...
Aruna says
In my home, there is a rasam available as a cure for every known ailment. I make garlic rasam in winters and just slurrrrrrp bowls of it, JLT.
JollyHomemadeRecipes says
Garlic rasam looks so inviting, I love garlic & pepper in one dish, this is so perfect drink for me. Have been looking for a nice recipe of this to try. Thanks for sharing this.
Sasmita says
this garlic pepper rasam looks much flavorful Kalyani !! On winter evenings this is so perfect and inviting too 🙂 use of pepper particularly attracts me most here
Geetanjali says
How simple this rasam is! I can just imagine the taste with garlic, pepper, ghee and jaggery... YUM!!! Love this delicious rasam 🙂