Easy Tomato rice Recipe for You to Try

The South Indian state of Tamil Nadu is famous for its tasty, simple, and fast tomato rice recipe. This one-pot miracle, also known as Thakkali Sadam in Tamil, is tasty, healthful, and ideal to carry in a tiffin for lunch on the road. Although the tomato rice is a little spicy, you can easily change the hotness to your preferred level. Serve it simply or with your favourite raita or crispy papad. It makes a really satisfying and healthy lunch!

Recipe Name	Tomato rice
Place of Origin	South India
Total Time Taken	40 minutes
Preparation Time	20 minutes

Tomato Rice Ingredients

For Soaking Rice

1. 1 heaped cup basmati rice 
2. Water as required

Spices

1. 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes 
2. ⅓ cup finely chopped onions 
3. ½  tsp Ginger Garlic Paste
4. 1 chopped green chilli 
5. ½  tsp mustard seeds
6. 4 to 5 fenugreek seeds (methi seeds)
7. ½ inch cinnamon
8. 2 green cardamoms
9. 2 to 3 cloves
10. 6 to 7 curry leaves 
11. ¼ tsp turmeric powder
12. ½ tsp red chilli powder
13. ½ tsp black pepper powder or crushed black pepper
14. ½ tsp coriander powder
15. 1 tsp cumin powder 
16. ½ tablespoon chopped mint leaves
17. ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves 
18. 1.5 to 2 cups water or add as required
19. 2 tbsp oil – any neutral oil
20. Salt as required

Preparation of Tomato Rice Recipe

Step 1: Rinse any type of rice, including basmati, multiple times in water.

Step 2: After that, soak the rice for 20 to 30 minutes in water. Rice should then be drained and set aside.

Step 3: Finely chop the tomatoes, onions, and green peppers. In a mortar and pestle, peel and grind the ginger and garlic. Also, mince the leaves of the mint and coriander.

Step 4: Set aside all of the rice’s required spices.

Step 5: Heat the oil in a 3-litre pressure cooker. Add the mustard seeds and let them crackle while maintaining a low flame. Fenugreek seeds are to be added next and they are quickly and gently fried without being burned.

Step 6: After that, add finely chopped onions, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. The onions should be stirred and sautéed until transparent and tender. Curry leaves, chopped green chilies, and ginger-garlic paste should all be added. Stirring and sautéing for a few seconds is necessary to get rid of the raw ginger-garlic aroma.

Step 7: Add the chopped mint and coriander leaves at this point. For one minute, stir and fry.

Step 8: Keep the heat on low or turn it off. Add the finely diced tomatoes as well as the turmeric, red chilli, crushed or powdered black pepper, coriander, and cumin powders.

Step 9: Mix thoroughly, then sauté the tomatoes until they are soft and pulpy and oil is oozing out of the sides.

Step 10: Add the rice that has been soaked. Gently combine the tomato mixture with the rice. Cook for one minute.

Step 11: Add 1.75 cups of water. You can also add 2 cups of water for the rice to have a softer consistency. As per taste, season with salt.

Step 12: Tomato rice should be pressure cooked for two whistles on medium heat or for 10 to 11 minutes. You may alternatively pressure cook the rice for three whistles if you want it to be softer. Once the cover is off, gently mix the tomato rice.

Step 13: Serve the tomato rice with appalams, chips, or raita on the side.

Tips to Enhance the Taste

1. Use less ginger-garlic paste, black pepper, and red chilli powder to lessen the heat and pungency. Therefore, you can add 1/4 teaspoon each of red chilli powder, black pepper, and ginger-garlic paste.
2. Use 1 3/4 cups of water because it is the ideal amount for the basmati rice. The quality of the rice will also affect how much water you need to add. You can add 2 cups for softer rice and 1 1/2 cups for separate grains of rice.
3. Although you can make this dish for a larger audience, proportionally increasing the ingredients might not work in this case.
4. When cooking rice in a pan, add 2 cups of water at first, then cover with a lid and simmer. When the rice is about halfway done, check it, and if it appears dry, add an additional 1/4 cup of water.

Serving Ideas

Serve it simply or with your favourite raita, crispy papad, and boondi raita. It makes a really satisfying and healthy lunch!

Nutritional Content in Tomato rice

Calories	121 kcal
Fats	10 g
Carbs	7g
Protein	2g

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can we make this thakkali sadam recipe with parboiled rice?

For this dish, parboiled (or converted) rice can be used but the soaking time must be increased to an hour. More water must be added and cooking time must be increased.

Q. Can we make this tomato rice dish using cooked rice?

Yes! Simply prepare the tomato masala as directed above, then thoroughly stir in the cooked rice.

Q. How do you prepare tomato rice in a rice maker?

Tomatoes should be finished sautéing and tempering in a pan before being added to the rice cooker with water and drained rice. Prepare the rice in the same manner that you would cook ordinary rice.

Q. Which dishes pair well with tomato rice?

With this tomato rice, raita or plain yoghurt is a great combo.