Neemflower Rasam

This is a simple rasam with medicinal value. My first kiddo thought the neemflowers were some bugs and he thought it was cool to have that rasam!! Boys will be boys...He once told his grandparents that i prepared mosquito rasam :)

Tamarind Paste - 1/2 spoon (approx) (or tamarind extract from small lemon sized tamarind)
Water
Redchillies - 4
Salt to taste
Hing, Mustard seeds and jeera for seasoning
Dried neemflowers - 3-4 spoons
ghee - 1 spoon
Toor daal - 1/4 cup -(optional)

Mix Tamarind paste (or tamarind extract) with Water. Add Salt and let it boil till the raw smell of tamarind goes. If you want to add daal, pressure cook it beforehand and add it after the raw smell goes and boil it for couple of more minutes. In a small pan, take some ghee and heat it. Pop mustard seeds, hing and jeera. Add the redchillies and dried neemflowers and saute for a minute. It will turn dark and smell good. Add this to the rasam. Here's the picture of how the neemflowers look after sauteing in the ghee.

This goes well with Rice. If you like slight bitteness, you can have it as soup as well.

Neemflower has lot of medicinal value and i believe, it is good for the eyes. Since it's an edible flower, i am going to send this to "JFI - Flower Power" . Not a pretty flower, but a good flower :D