Tuesday 2 November 2010

Spicy tomato rice

My lil brother buzzed me the other day to ask me how to make tomato rice. I didn't know really. I mean I did try it out once loooong back but it wasn't really the best. But at that time getting rice cooked without mashing or burning it was a big achievement and this simple tomato rice was indeed a day for celebration.  So when N asked me I passed on some random recipe I'd found on a blog and asked him to follow it to the dot. He did and even sent me a picture the next day saying it turned out good. I realized it definitely looked waaay better than the one I first made and so I took it upon myself to make the perfect spicy tomato rice. I also realized I dont have that many rice recipe here. And secretly, after I started watching Jamie's 30 minute meals, I am awesomely motivated and even better his method of cooking rice (which I'm sure all you guys would have know and even practise at home) of mixing it all together, was a revelation to me and I just had to make something rice related to test the waters again.

Basmati rice- 1 cup, washed two to three times and soaked in warm water.
Boiling water- 2 cups

To puree:
Tomatoes- 2
Ginger paste- 1/2 tsp
Garlic paste- 1/2 tsp

To sauté:
Oil/ Ghee- 1 tbsp
Onion- 1 medium, chopped into small slices
Kashmiri chilli powder- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
Cumin powder- 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida- a pinch
Sambar powder- 1/2 tsp (optional)
Tomato pickle- 1 tsp (optional)
Lime juice- 1 tsp
Salt- to taste

To temper:
Oil- 1 tsp
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves- a sprig
Dry red chillies- 3
Channa/ Urud dal- 1 tsp
In a frying pan heat oil and saute the onions till lightly brown.
Add the puréed tomato-ggp mix, chilli, turmeric, cumin, sambar, asafoetida powder. tomato pickle and salt and give it a good stir making sure every things combined well.
On low-medium fire cook the tomato mix until oil starts separating. This is very important and to prevent it from sticking to the vessel, keep stirring in between and if its really dry add a tbsp of water or so.
Drain the rice and add to the tomato mixture once it turns to a slightly pulpy consistency.
Mix well making sure all the rice granules are coated with the tomato paste.
Turn the heat up to a medium and add the boiling water and the lime juice. Give a stir and cover with a lid.
Cook till the rice is done, approx 7 to 8 minutes.
Fluff it lightly and place in a serving bowl.
Add some oil in a small pan and splutter mustard seeds.
Then add curry leaves, dry red chillies and the dal and saute for a few minutes till they all start changing colours.
Pour over the rice, mix well and serve with raita, pickle and pappad. BLISS...let me assure you.
Notes: It was indeed a bit spicy but I loved it nonetheless. Reduce the chilli powder to half a tsp maybe.
The tomato pickle/ thokku adds that extra zing and i loved it. Its purely optional and so is the sambar powder.
The tadka also can be avoided. I just did it for glamour sake:)

34 comments:

Satya said...

wow mouth watering spread,i can have this whole bowl of tomato rice ...yummy
Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

Foodie Ann said...

This looks great Nisha...

aipi said...

Lovely comfort food !

US Masala

Unknown said...

Glamorised tomato rice looks awesome, adding asafoetida and lemon is different from my mum version sure it give a new flavour and freshly fried crackers will love the bowl of rice :)

Unknown said...

Spicy rice for this chilli weather...nothing more I want!

Torviewtoronto said...

delicious
colourful lovely presentation

Sanjeeta kk said...

Love that spicy and tangy tomato rice, the papads look crispy and tempting.

Unknown said...

Am drooling over your pics..Awesome tomato rice!!

Pavithra Srihari said...

wow .. addition of tomato pickle must have given a different taste .. should try it next time .. pictures are glamourous ;)

Anonymous said...

very yum looking

Unknown said...

Hi Nisha,

That looks so yummm and tsaty.....:)

Check out the event in my blog..:)

Dr.Sameena@

http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

Jaisy James said...

wow looks delicious n loved ur presentation

Binys Recipes said...

wow....cant express wat i feel in wards.The tomato rice looks really look good...love the idea of presenting it with chicken curry and poppadums........making me hungry.
Biny

Umm Mymoonah said...

Lovely combination, makes me feel hungry

Suja Manoj said...

Mouthwatering spicy and tangy rice..sounds a great recipe..will surely give this a try soon.

GB said...

It looks yummilicious. Love the crisp papads on the side! yummmmmmm!

Nithya said...

Looks so delicious and vibrant :) yummy :)

delphcotecuisine said...

spicy, sunny and yummy, what a lovely recipe
bises from France
Delphine

Sandhya Hariharan said...

Such a vibrant bowl of tomato rice... Looks delicious..

Cool Lassi(e) said...

Very colorful tomato rice! Love you presentation.

About the rice recipe that you asked, I will be posting it shortly. But if you need it right away, I can send you a mail. Let me know.

Monet said...

Wow! Only you could make a bowl of rice look so very appetizing! I'm drooling and wishing that I was able to make this dish right now. The presentation is beautiful, and I'm sure the flavor of the spices just explodes in your mouth. Thanks for sharing!

Nitha said...

delicious tomato rice... Of course that tadka has added enough glamour..

Priya Suresh said...

I never say no to tomato rice, beautiful spread, am just drooling over that chicken gravy and rice..

Sarah, Maison Cupcake said...

That looks great! So much more interesting than plain rice. My son would love it.

Prathima Rao said...

What a wonderful space u have here!!Love ur version of tomato rice...all the other which i came across failed to impress me...But urs is definitely a keeper!!Happy to be following u now!!

Sarah Naveen said...

I am coming Nisha!!!!
Such a yummy meals!!!! mm...pappadavum riceum ..ooh...yummyyyy!!!

Unknown said...

Delicious tomato rice..its my daughters fav..

Namitha said...

This is so comforting...I love it...

Andhra Style Recipes said...

Looking hot recipe.
good taste thanks for share.

Soumya said...

very comforting recipe...love to have tomato rice at any time...excellent presentation...lovely color

Unknown said...

Tried the receipe and it came out really well..thanks a ton..

Hari Chandana P said...

Looks simply delicious !!

swapna said...

wow...so delicious sure is my comfort food!!lovely!!beautiful presentation!

themustardseed said...

That looks so tempting! Love the photographs on your blog!