February 13, 2024

Tomato Rice

Name: Tomato Rice
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 cloves undefined; 1 bay leaf; 1 cinnamon stick; 2 Dry red chili; 1 tbsp ghee or oil; 1 tsp cumin seeds; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1 tsp urad dal; 1 tsp chana dal; curry leaves; 2 tbsp cashews; asafetida; 1/2 tsp turmeric; 1 tsp red chili powder; 1 tsp garam masala; 1 tsp cumin coriander powder; 1 tbsp minced ginger garlic and green chili; 1/2 cup chopped onions; 1 cup chopped tomatoes; salt to taste; 2 cups long grain rice; 1 cup water; cilantro

Tomato Rice is simply though delicious one pot meal. This one pot meal recipe is so easy to make. With minimal ingredients you can get phenomenal and drool worthy Dish. Tomato Rice can be made with leftover rice too but i prefer to use uncooked rice which gives amazing flavors and aroma. Tomato rice can be served with any flavored raita or simple yogurt as well. I like to have this with side of salad and papad.

Jump to Recipe

I discover this rice recipe when i was looking for something easy and quick recipe. This is perfect recipe for lunch or dinner and for tiffin too. This one pot recipe you can make into @instantpot as well. Tomato rice, or tomato biryani, is a special type of spiced rice traditionally cooked in South India. There are many variations of tomato rice; some versions feature mustard seeds and curry leaves, and others cook the rice with coconut milk.

This tomato rice recipe is inspired by the South Indian variety while utilizing spices more typical in restaurant-style biryanis, such as cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon. Long-grain basmati rice simmers in aromatic spices, ginger, garlic, onion, and tomato for a flavorful, warming one-pot rice dish.

Basmati Rice Is Best for Tomato Rice

Use long-grain basmati rice for fluffy, separated rice grains with this tomato rice. In addition to offering an optimal texture, basmati rice is also aromatic and fragrant, adding a pleasant aroma. I like to use @laxmifood long grain basmati rice.What would happen if you used short-grained rice, such as jasmine rice or sushi rice? The rice grains would clump and stick together—hardly the ideal texture for biryani.

Rinsing and soaking the rice is a must. These steps remove excess starches (producing a gummier result) and improve texture. Now that we’ve chosen the optimal rice variety, it’s time to talk about technique.

Tips for Making Fluffy Rice

Without the proper technique, your tomato rice might be too soft, unevenly cooked, or scorch the bottom of the pan. These are some of the struggles I faced when I first learned to cook more complex rice dishes, such as biryanis and pulaos. I would suggest to soak the rice for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Soaking rice can give the rice fluffy and white color texture. The other thing is soaked rice can cook easily.

Ingredients Used for the recipe:

Whole spices : Clove, Cardamom, Bay leaf, cinnamin stick. Basically used whole spices as we use in Classic Biryani.
Dry Spices: Asafetida, Cumin coriander powder, Turmeric, Garam masala, Red chili powder. Cumin seeds, mustard seeds, Chana dal, Urad dal.
Curry Leaves – Enhanced the taste of Rice.
Chopped Onions – Gives a pleasant taste and aroma
Minced garlic, ginger and green chili.
Chopped Tomatoes – I would suggest to use red ripe Roma Tomatoes.
Cashews
Long grain rice – I would suggest to use long grain basmati rice rather than sona masoori rice.
Ghee Or Oil – I like to use Ghee in this but you can use whatever you like.
Salt as per taste.

How to Make Tomato Rice?

Making tomato rice is really so easy and simple. This simple though delicious one pot meal is perfect for quick and easy lunch or dinner. This Tomato rice can be served with any flavored raita and side of salad or papad. Making this tomato rice I would suggest to use long grain rice. This can gives tremendous aroma and flavors.

For best result of this tomato rice, I would suggest to soak the rice for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Soaking rice can give the rice fluffy and white color texture. The other thing is soaked rice can cook easily. Some people like to add peanuts into this. I do not like so i skipped it. If you like add peanuts when you add whole spices and chana dal and urad dal. Adding chana dal and urad dal into this rice gives you the authentic taste of rice from South India.

Sauté the aromatics and tomato: Sautéing whole spices, onion, ginger, garlic, and tomato helps develop the base flavor for the rice. Here, I cook the spices and tomato and then i add rice.
Here is the tip, when you add rice, rice already have been soaked. So, it will not take too much water. I made this rice in pressure cooker so i cooked everything accordingly. Once the rice added make sure you add only half cup of water.
Let the rice cook with 2 or 3 whistle and let it simmer. This way you will get Fluffy Rice.

Serve Tomato Rice as a Side or Main

You can serve tomato rice warm, or at room temperature on hotter days. While you can absolutely present the tomato rice as a main dish, I prefer to serve it as a side with raita.

Tomato Rice

5 from 1 vote

Recipe by Shruti Naik Course: MainCuisine: Indian

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Calories

126

kcal

Total time

minutes

Ingredients

1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
2 Dry red chili
1 tbsp ghee or oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp chana dal
curry leaves
2 tbsp cashews
asafetida
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp cumin coriander powder
1 tbsp minced ginger garlic and green chili
1/2 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped tomatoes
salt to taste
2 cups long grain rice
1 cup water
cilantro

Directions

Take an equipment you want to make your rice. I used my pressure cooker but you can use @instantpot as well.
Heat the cooker and add 1 tbsp of ghee or oil. Once the ghee heated add whole spices like bay leaf, cinnamon stick, clove and red dry chili.
Add chana dal, urad dal, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Once it started spluttering, add asafetida and chopped or sliced cut onions.
Saute the onions for 2 minutes or until they leave the raw taste. Add minced garlic, ginger and green chili.
Cook this for another few minutes. Add cashews and curry leaves.
Add chopped tomatoes. Let the tomato cook for few minutes or until they get softer.
Add salt to taste, garam masala, turmeric, cumin coriander powder and red chili powder. Mix this well and add 1 cup of water into this.
Add soaked rice into this. Give it a light and good mix. Cover it and let it cook with 2 to 3 whistle.
Let it set for few minutes or until it cool down.
10. Open the lid. Garnish with cilantro.
11. Serve this Tomato rice hot with chilled Raita and papad.

Notes

1. To make fluffy rice, soak the rice for 15 to 20 minutes. It will give the perfect texture and flavors.
If you make my recipe please give your feedback and star to my recipe.