Tomato Rice is a quick one pot meal loaded with tomatoes, warm spices and of course rice! Yu can make with uncooked rice or even with left over rice. Paired with raita, and some pickle on the side, this rice dish is a great meal for busy days.
Tomato Rice is an easy One Pot Meal
Often, I don’t follow a strict rule with such one pot rice dishes. I like to go with the flow and even change the spices based on how I want it that day. The spices for the Tomato Rice can be changed accordingly.
Adding Idli Podi to Tomato Rice!
Today, I prepared the Tomato rice using south Indian Idli Podi as the spice mix. My friend in her last visit gave us a big batch of her homemade idli podi. We have been enjoying it a lot with dosa and idli, but occasionally I am adding it in my quick rice dishes too.
With very minimal effort it adds a warm flavor to the dish. Idli podi is easily available in any Indian store or online in Amazon.
I am not claiming this Tomato Rice recipe to be authentic. It is just one of the many ways I like to prepare it. And if you don’t have idli podi, you can use your choice of spices too.
Canned or Fresh Tomatoes?
Typically, tomato rice is prepared with fresh tomatoes and I did the same. But you can use canned ones too. Just don’t use puree or else you will mix out of the texture.
Also, if you choose canned tomato, then definitely adjust the seasoning accordingly. You might need to add more sugar to cut down on the tartness.
When I first started to understand South Indian food culture, I was amazed at the variety of rice dishes they have. The crunchy peanuts with the fried curry leaves, this rice dish is flavor bomb with lots of texture.
We pair it with yogurt and a fried curd chilli (another south Indian specialty that I always stock from Indian stores)
Tomato Rice
Ingredients
- ¼ cup peanuts
- handful of curry leaves
- 1 green chili
- 1 inch ginger (finely chopped)
- 1 small red onion (6 oz, finely chopped)
- 3 red tomatoes (finely chopped ( about 6 oz each) (I also added some cherry tomatoes from my garden))
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon Idli Podi
- 1 cup white basmati rice
- 2 cups water (you might need less water if you are using short grain rice)
- 1 tablepsoon ghee
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- In a wok at medium heat, pour the oil. Once it heats up, add the peanuts and half of the curry leaves. Fry intil crispy and then take it off to a bowl.
- To the same wok, add the ghee along with black mustard seeds, chopped green chili, chopped curry leaves and ginger. Stir for about 30 seconds.
- Scatter the red onion along with salt and cook it for couple minutes. Then add the tomato, sugar and stir. Cook for 5 minutes or until the tomatoes are soften.
- Add the Idli podi and mix it around.
- Then add the washed rice, along with the water and give it a stir. Bring it to boil then bring the heat to medium and let it simmer for about 15 minutes or until the rice it cooked. Do stir once or twice in between.
- Garnish the cooked rice with the fried peanurs and curry leaves.
- Serve warm with raita.
Notes
Preparing the dish with leftover rice
You can prepare the same dish using left over rice too. In which case you will not add water. Once the tomatoes are cooked, add the left over rice and stir it aorund to incorporae everything.Substitute for Idli Podi
I used Idli podi to prepare the Tomato Rice, but you can use your choice of spices too. A mix of cumin powder, coriander powder, chili powde will work great too.
Juliana
Oh! This rice dish looks so tasty...full of flavor...I could dig into it without any hesitation. Have a great week Kankana 🙂
Nishi
This rice is a regular at our home too. This is an easy quick fix recipe and at the same time delicious as well. And you have done complete justice to this rice with the photographs 🙂
torviewtoronto
fabulous looking tomato rice flavourful and delicious
Nadia
This dish looks so comforting. I never had tamaatar chawal before, we have meat pulaos or peas pulao mostly. I will have to give it a try. 🙂
Megan
This sounds so unique and delicious! Pretty, too!
The Mistress of Spices
Mmmmm I love tomato rice! It's one of my favorite dishes that my mom makes too. I haven't made it myself in ages, thanks for reminding me of it! Mouth is watering now 🙂
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
What a hearty and vibrant dish. 🙂
Sandra's Easy Cooking
This looks and sounds fantastic girl..love the way you do your magic in the kitchen..Keep them coming!
Tina (PinayInTexas)
Just like Manu, I haven't tried tomato rice...but this looks really good! A complete meal all in one plate!
Noorish
This is my kind of blog. I just went through a bunch of your posts and I love your recipes. Especially the Egg Masala....I love currys. And your photography is beautiful.
jeyashrisuresh
very nice version of tomato rice. adding coriander seeds, peanuts ,sesame seeds will surely enhance the flavour
aipi
I soooooooooo want to grab that bowl right now ..one of my most fav one pot meals 🙂
Liked the addition os sesame- must have given a nice nutty texture!
US Masala
Sanjeeta kk
The rice looks so delicious! Like the sesame in it. Beautiful color and fluffy dish!
chopinandmysaucepan
I love the aromas of curry leaves especially if you fry them and they release the fragrance.
sukanya
absolutely fantastic and simple tomato rice. pics are really good.
pls do check the new event at my site : summer coolers
Priya
Tomato rice looks super delicious,would love to finish that whole plate,btw regarding ur q'n about rice rava,its not sooji dear,rice ravas are broken rice,which we use actually for making idly batter, hope i cleared ur doubt..
Priya Sreeram
nice recipe kankana & like u said pretty simple too !
Raji
I really flavoured rice dishes...the recipe is too good. The picture of the tomatoes is superb.
Manu
This sounds so delicious. I have never had tomato rice before and this looks so inviting. I love all the spices you put!!! Bring it on!!! 🙂
Nandini
This was my fav lunch box dish in my school days...looks awesome and love the colour!