Skip to content
FriendsPantry
Rasam powder

Spices & seasonings · Spice blends

Rasam powder

Peppery South Indian blend of coriander, cumin, black pepper and chilli for thin, tangy rasam.

Also called: rasam masala, saathumudhu podi

A kind of spices

2 recipes with it

Make it yourself: Rasam powder

Photo: Nithyasrm, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Rasam powder is a roasted ground blend dominated by black pepper and cumin with coriander, dried chillies and sometimes toor dal and curry leaves. It is more peppery and less earthy than sambar powder and is used for rasam, the thin tamarind-and-tomato broth served with rice.

How it’s used

  • Tomato and tamarind rasam
  • Pepper rasam (milagu rasam)
  • Seasoning stir-fried vegetables

Characteristics

Taste
Peppery, hot, tangy-toasty.
Sold as
ground
Cooking uses
Mainly a seasoning

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Airtight jar away from light.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions. May contain Wheat, Gluten — check the label.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free (check label)
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • May contain lentils and asafoetida (which may include wheat).

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
325 kcal
Protein
14.29 g
Carbohydrate
55.83 g
Fat
14.01 g
Fibre
53.2 g
Sugars
2.76 g

USDA FoodData Central: Spices, curry powder (a close stand-in).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Ground pepper, cumin and coriander — Mix 1:1:2 with a pinch of chilli.

Related ingredients

Recipes with rasam powder

More spice blends