[prakash_mib]

This one I kept for recipe competetion if it comes up.

Right the real one is from Tamil (my state from india) where they call it rassam. There are number of varieties of rassam, as my cousin sister makes around 18 varieties of it.

the variety mulligawtawny soup is pepper rasam


Recipe

1. crushed pepper (not powdered) - 1/2 tsp
2. garlic  - 1 clove
3. juicy tomato - 1
4. salt - to taste
5. chocoriander - garnishing
6. clarified butter/ghee (microwave butter for a minute to get a good clear fat) - 2-3 tsp


now hard to find ingredients

7. cumin seeds crushed (not powdered) - 1/2 tsp
8. tamarind water (made from golf ball sized tamarind / 1 tsp of puree) - 1 pint
9. curry leaves (Murraya koenigii) - 2 arcs


Cooking
give a tap on garlic to slightly crush it. make sure you dont crush too muck/pulp it.
Wash your hands (will tell you why)

Add crushed pepper, cumin seeds, garlic, curry leaves, salt to the tamarind water in a pan and heat medium. on the first bubble hand crush the tomato holding it on top of the pan to let the juice run down and the flesh crumple in your palm and falls into the pan (you should have washed your hands). This is to get perfect texture of tomato and release maximum pulp and juice. simmer for 3 more minutes and add clarified butter and switch the heat off. Now the rassam should be a clear soup with glaze on top (yum).
Add chopped coriander on top and give it a good stir and serve in bowls. drink hot and they are perfect appetizers.

Option.
you can add diced chicken (at start) and cook for few more minutes to get a chicken clear soup.

And when you make/have one please give your verdict.
 

[scabs]

I suddenly feel rather peckish...

[prakash_mib]

It is really tasty. Even more if you have flue symptoms. better than the shop bought medicines/cough syrups/lozenges. 

[compostqueen]

I love mulligatawny    but I've not made it myself. I've done sambar and loved that so I'd love to have a go at making this

Thanks 

[Ribbit]

I think I'm having rassam or sambhar tonight, looking forward to it I agree tis very good for flu/cold symptoms. you can also get half a teaspoon of each of the following: turmeric,cinnamon and ginger and a clove or so in some hot water to brew for 5minutes or so then sieve the stuff out doesn't really taste all that good but clears all that flem away also you can try turmeric milk...but I don't know the recipe....

[agingchick]

Golden Milk from 'Grow Your Own Drugs'
put 200ml milk, 1/2 teasp Turmeric Paste , 1 teasp almond oil and honey(to taste)in a pan. Heat to just below boiling point. Then wizz in a blender to froth(adding fruit if liked). Drink

Turmeric Paste
put 30g dried turmeric powder in a pan with 150ml water and simmer to a thick paste.
this can also be used externally on arthritic joints.

[prakash_mib]

I think I'm having rassam or sambhar tonight, looking forward to it I agree tis very good for flu/cold symptoms. you can also get half a teaspoon of each of the following: turmeric,cinnamon and ginger and a clove or so in some hot water to brew for 5minutes or so then sieve the stuff out doesn't really taste all that good but clears all that flem away

hope you enjoyed it.
the other medicine you talked about is a general home medicine. we add fresh adathoda vasica leaves (so bitter that you can feel bitterness for next two days) and honey to the ingredients you mentioned get rid of flue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justicia_adhatoda on adathoda vasica. the best flue medicine ever.