Manathakkali Keerai Rasam (also called Sunberry Rasam) is not just food, but medicine. Revered in Ayurveda and Siddha systems, this rasam is a bitter-sweet tonic that supports liver detox, gut healing, and eye health. Its subtle bitterness, when cooked gently, transforms into a soothing and refreshing broth — perfect for when the body craves restoration.
What Is Sunberry Rasam?
It’s a soupy preparation made using manathakkali leaves (Solanum nigrum / black nightshade) with gentle spices, ideal for cleansing pitta and pacifying inflammation. This rasam is light, sattvic, and can be made without tamarind or dal, making it ideal for healing diets.
How to Make Sunberry Rasam: The Traditional Way
🛒 Ingredients:
main
- 1 cup Manathakkali keerai (tender leaves only, washed)
- 1 small tomato (optional, deseeded and chopped)
- 1 tsp crushed black pepper
- 1 tsp crushed cumin
- ¼ tsp turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
- 2½ cups water
- 2–3 crushed garlic pods (optional)
Tempering
- 1 tsp ghee
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- Pinch of hing (asafoetida)
- 1 dry red chilli
- A few curry leaves
🥣 Method:
- Prepare the Rasam Base:
In a pot, add water, turmeric, salt, and bring to a gentle boil. - Add Greens:
Add washed manathakkali leaves and simmer for 5–6 minutes till the leaves soften. - Spice it Up:
Add crushed pepper, cumin, garlic (if using), and optional tomatoes. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes. - Temper It:
Heat ghee, splutter mustard seeds, hing, red chilli, and curry leaves. Add this to the rasam. - Finish:
- Serve hot with rice or sip it warm like a herbal soup.
🌿 Ayurvedic Benefits
- Bitter rasa helps pacify excess pitta and cools internal heat.
- Excellent for liver support, ulcers, acidity, and mouth sores.
- Aids in cleansing blood and clearing skin eruptions.
- Beneficial for eyesight and fatigue related to heat exposure.
💡Pro Tips from the Indian Kitchen
- Do not over boil the greens; bitterness intensifies.
- Use fresh tender leaves only – avoid thick stems.
- You can crush a few sunberries (if available) for an authentic rustic taste.
- Avoid adding too much tomato; it overpowers the greens.
❤️ Why We love Sunberry Rasam
- Deeply therapeutic and comforting
- Ideal for fever, fatigue, and digestive issues
- Rare to find in restaurants — a treasure from grandmothers’ kitchens
- Naturally vegan and gluten-free
🧘 Ideal For
- Recovery meals (fever, ulcers, indigestion)
- Pitta-pacifying diets
- Light, sattvic lunches
- Summer days needing gentle detox
- People with low appetite, mouth ulcers, or eye strain
