I prepare tomato rice in two ways. I have already posted tomato rice long time back using tomato puree, this version is slightly spicier than my earlier version. Call this tomato pulao or biryani or bhath or South Indian style spicy tomato rice, the end product is very delicious and is literally a breeze to make.You can pair it up with a simple raita/pachadi or just have it with potato chips. It is great for packed lunch also.
How to make Tomato rice-Thakkali Sadam (Pulao spicy version)
Prep Time : 10 mins
Cook Time : 30 mins
Serves: 2
Recipe Category: Rice Dish-Lunch/Dinner
Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
Author:Padhu Sankar
Serves: 2
Recipe Category: Rice Dish-Lunch/Dinner
Recipe Cuisine: South Indian
Author:Padhu Sankar
Ingredients needed
Basmati Rice – 1 cup
Onion – 2 medium size
Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp
Ripe juicy tomatoes – 4 (medium size)
Green chillies – 2 slit (small ones)
Turmeric powder -1/4 tsp
Chilli Powder – 3/4 tsp
Garam masala powder -1/2 tsp (optional)
Mint leaves – handful chopped finely
Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp finely chopped
Salt as needed
For the seasoning
Oil – 3 tbsp
Bay leaf -1
Cloves -2
Cardamom -1
Cinnamon – 1 inch piece
Preparation
Soak basmati rice for 20 minutes, drain the water completely and keep it aside.
Chop tomatoes and cut onions lengthwise.
Method
Heat oil in a pan, add bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon and cardamon. Fry for a few seconds and then add thinly sliced onions.
Saute till onions become slightly golden brown, add ginger garlic paste and saute for a few more minutes.
Then add chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, chilli powder, green chillies, mint leaves, half of coriander leaves, salt (approximately 2 tsp and little more) needed and garam masala powder. Cook till tomatoes become mushy.
Add the drained rice, 2 cups of hot water,(check for salt now by tasting the water) and transfer it to a container and pressure cook for 3 whistles.When the pressure subsides, open it and fluff it with a fork. Garnish with the remaining coriander leaves.
If using rice cooker, transfer the contents to a rice cooker, switch on and cook till done.
Check out my earlier version of tomato rice using tomato puree.
Enjoy preparing both the versions as both are simply fabulous!!
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Simple and lovely.
Delicious pulao…
Delicious..
i prepare it often when no vegetable available at stock.. really a life saver..
Oh!!!
It is mouth watering dear.
I want to taste it.
By the by thanks for visiting my blog.
I am happy.
viji
Delicious and so colourful..
Yummy rice…love to have this with potato chips…looks delicious.
simply delicious rice preparation
yummy tomato rice…
-Sarika
lovely one
Tomato pulao looks delicious
Join me in Favorite recipes event: Cookies
I made a similar rice today and had it with onion salad. was awesome 🙂
Super flavourful one pot meal,simply inviting.
Tomato rice looks so colorful.
Hi Padhu ,
looks yummy :))))
and delicious !!!!
Keep on Dear…
Beautiful and flavourful rice dear! How you been? 😉
terrific and super tempting
Delicious tomato rice.. what a co-incidence..I was thinking of making it tomorrow for lunch..
Thanks Padhu..I love the traditional methods u use to prepare simple dishes…Keep posting some more traditional dishes..
Thanks Padhu for this recipe. Tried it but never thought this would turn out so yumm! This one's for keeps!
spicy, yummy and was absolutely awesome!!! Thanks for sharing..
This is great!!!! taste is awesome and very easy to prepare… Thanks for the recipeee
I did away frying n shifting process..i fried in d cooker n dn steamd it!yumm..
This recipe came out very well. I had some coconut milk to finish and substituted it for half the quantity of water. Thank you!
Thanks a lot for sharing this recipe, i prepared it today it just awesome so delicious.
I made the rice for my wife and it tasted well. She was happy and so was I. Thanks for the receipe.
tomato rice is my favorite dish.i want to taste this.
Good information, have tried it really superb. Thanks
Hi Padhu! I have coriander ground and not the leaves, so can I use this as substitute, and if so, then how much of the coriander ground I should use? 1 tsp?
Perrin – Yes, you can Perrin .You can add 1 tsp coriander powder.Fresh coriander leaves gives more flavor but if you cannot get it, it does not matter.The pulao will still taste good.
Its really great…just nw i had it..
This is a great recipe. I am still learning how to cook for my South Indian husband and sometimes we're both mystified as to what we're having for dinner or lunch. But, he is always pleased when I make him this tomato rice and eats it all up. It makes me so glad I can fix him something he loves. Thanks for sharing this recipe!!
Hi …i prepared this recipe yesterday and i came out really gud….thnx much
But my ly concern was inspite of soaking de rice for 15 min it was too sticky….
Can ya plz suggest me abt which are the rice type i can soak and which not to?
I used basmati rice for the pulao. For the second recipe which I have done with tomato puree, I used ordinary rice. In South India we get very good quality rice. To prevent basmati rice from getting mushy -I will give you 2 tips – After soaking the rice for 15-20 minutes, drain the water completely, then saute the rice in 1 tsp of ghee for 3-4 minutes, then cook as usual.
Tip#2- Add a 2 tsp of lemon juice while cooking the rice.
It comes very well, My Friend is a Punjabi enjoyed the taste also , Thank u very much Padhu , Will try tommorrow Brinjal Rice for Sure !!
Its really yummy. Whenever I want to make something for my fiance. I come to ur blog. U have such simple yet tasty recipes kudos. Love all ur dishes. Keep up the good work.
Seems tasty:) I will cook it today.
1 cup of rice is equivalent to how many gms?
Sorry for the delay in responding to you as I was away on a vacation.
1 cup uncooked rice = 200 grams
padhu i cook tomato pulao in the same way it was so lovely and delicious before one year when iam new to cooking i was searching for all one by one but i got ur site one day now it was part of my life iam not able to stop to watch ur blog, really it gives a mother feeling who clears our doubt……..i wish u wholeheartedly to continue this wonderful work i get more interest wen i enter into ur blog thank u so much!!!! (no words to express) i became an expert in mixed rice varietes my aunty asks me to do all kinds of rice
It is very similar to veg biriyani
Hello Padhu. Really really love your blog. I started cooking recently. Tried most dishes looking at your blog. Thank you so much.
Hi padhu rajani here. Tried the recipe. It was really good
I make this often..it comes out really well..thanks Padhu 🙂
I don't hav mint and coriander leaves or any of their powder too..wil it taste good without that too?
If you do not add mint leaves, coriander leaves and any powder, it will not taste good. The herbs gives flavor to the rice and you cannot skip the spice powder also.
Awesome recipe….. It came out really well…..my children loved it….
Thank you truly for this recipe, Padhu. I make this quite often =).
Best wishes from Toronto, Canada ❤
Hi…..I'm a student , staying alone…..the recipes in your page is very helpful…..thanq
Super and tasty rice I tried today and the taste is awesome. Thank u very much keep posting good recipes
Just tried it… amazing recipe .. thank you soooooo much
Hi Padhu…I tried this recipe today and it tasted good, followed the exact process but still little rice got burnt at the bottom, should i reduce the whistles?
Usually I cook keeping a vessel inside the cooker. If you are cooking directly in the cooker – then follow this method – After adding water, close the cooker without weight (on medium heat).Once the rice is half cooked, stir the contents and close the cooker with weight. Simmer for 4 minutes. Then switch off the heat. Open after 5-6 minutes or after the pressure subsides.
Same doubt i got today.. And it has been answered.. Direct cooker method..usually ur biriyani and pulaod will have a comment for direct cooker method also.. So i started doing without checking it.. And finally it was there in the comments section.. It came out well padhu.. U r really a queen of cooking
I tried this recipe today and it was so easy and tasty. Thank you.
Thank you for the recipe. Tried it and it came very well.
Nice Dish
Cooked it now. Very tasty. Tastes more like a biryani without any meat or vegetables(v call it kushka). But way too easy since there is no extra cutting or cooking time. I added half tsp cumin powder as well for extra flavor.
Hi padhu, thanks for all the recipes.. I blond foldly try ur recipes… They turn out awwww… Today am planning to prepare tomato rice.no pudina…can I still continue?
Really nice and easy .., I have tried the other recipe of simple veg pulao as well .. thank u so much for making cooking easy .. as I’m a newbie .. God bless – Dipali
I often cook this. Its a hit in my house. Even kids enjoy eating it. I add a little butter to it though.
Yours is the absolute best and easy recipe for tomato rice I love it