The Memories..
The first time I had Tomato Rice is when my mom packed it as a school lunch. What a yummy surprise it was! This recipe was given to my mom by her best friend and as one of the gems passed to us, I have tried to replicate it based on what flavor and taste I can recollect.
The Key Ingredients
As the name suggests, tomatoes and rice are the base non-negotiable ingredients. Fresh, firm tomatoes are a must for this recipe to retain the flavor and texture of the tomatoes. The key to a great tomato rice is cooked and cooled rice that does not clump together. Using day old rice works perfectly fine. I usually prefer using Basmati rice for these types of rice or pulavs. If you already have that handy, this recipe is very quick from the pan to the plate!
The Other Players
The other key ingredients here are the flavoring agents a.k.a the spices. I have kept the flavor profile simple by using only two main spices. The base flavor for this dish comes from freshly crushed cumin seeds and black peppercorns. The aroma of these two spices hitting the hot oil is what makes this dish! If you are used to adding more whole spices to your rice dish, such as cinnamon or cloves, feel free to add some. The use of chopped onions provide moisture that along with the tomatoes make this rice perfect as a stand-alone dish. I have not added any more vegetables to this rice, but you could add peas (that green color will only enhance this dish) or even better- you could add edamame (for the color as well as a vegan protein component.
Trendy!
Tomato Rice has all the current culinary buzzwords! This savory rice dish, which happens to be naturally vegan and gluten-free is perfect for weeknight dinners or as leftovers for work/school lunches. And did I mention how easy this dish is to make? This is meant to be a spicy, tangy dish. Alter the spicy components to suit your liking. If you like, serve it with a cooling raita for a perfect pairing!!
Have you tried this recipe? Do you have any variations? Do let me know in the comments below. Here is how I made my Tomato Rice..
TOMATO RICE
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 2 green chilies finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder optional
- 1 small red onion finely chopped
- 2 medium tomatoes finely chopped
- 2 cups white rice cooked and cooled
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1 Fresh cilantro leaves chopped for garnishing
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan and add cumin and crushed black peppercorns. Sauté for a minute until fragrant.
- Add the minced garlic and chopped green chilies and stir.
- Add the chopped onion & mix well. Cover and cook for 3 mins.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, Kashmiri red chili powder(Optional)and salt, mix well. Cover and cook until well cooked and combine, for about 2-3 minutes.
- Add a couple stems of Cilantro and sauté for 1 minute.
- Finally, add the rice, season with salt(if needed) and mix well. Cover and cook on low heat for 3-5 mins.
- Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves and serve hot.
Video
Notes
Do check out our other rice recipes: