TOMATO RICE / THAKKLI SADAM / TOMATO BATH

Tomato Rice otherwise known as Thakkali Sadam in Tamil or Tomato Bath in Udupi in Karnataka, is a popular South Indian dish made by cooking rice along with tomatoes and spices. In case you are exhausted of having the plain rice or the other rice dishes, at that point here is an interesting variation that you must try. The dish has a distinct hot and tangy flavor and exceptionally simple to make, which makes it an interesting lunch recipe that is ideal for office goers. As it is not a traditional dish, so each home or region have their own way of making it and you can add your own twist of flavours to this conventional South Indian recipe.

Tomato rice is a basic dish made with minimal ingredients and can be made very quickly. It is also liked by youngsters and is the perfect dish for their lunch box. Despite the fact that this dish began as a South Indian favorite, it has now gotten well known all over India. In spite of the fact that tomato rice made from fresh rice tastes better, it is quite common to make this recipe from left over rice. Tomato rice tastes heavenly all alone, yet in addition goes well with plain curd or any raita like onion tomato raita or mint Raita, some coconut chutney, papad or even chips, sambhar or any spicy fish curry.

INGREDIENTS:

• Rice - 1 cup
• Oil or Ghee - 2 tablespoons
• Bay leaf - 1, small
• Black peppercorn - 1/4 teaspoon, crushed roughly
• Cloves - 4 nos.
• Cinnamon stick - 1 inch
• Green cardamom - 4 nos.
• Black mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Chana dal - 1 tablespoon
• Urad dal - 1 tablespoon
• Cashewnuts - 10 (Optional)
• Asafoetida (Hing) - A pinch
• Green chilli - 1, slit
• Curry leaves - 2 springs
• Dried red chillies - 2 nos.
• Onion - 1, medium, thinly sliced
• Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
• Tomatoes - 3, large, sliced
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon 
• Red chilli powder - 1 teaspoon
• Garam masala - 1 teaspoon
• Coriander powder - 1 teaspoon
• Cumin powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Salt - As per taste
• Water - 2 cups or as needed
• Coriander Leaves - A handful, chopped
• Mint leaves - A handful, chopped

PROCEDURE:

1. Take the rice in a bowl, wash them few times with water. Then soak the rice in water for 30 minutes, drain to a colander and set them aside. 
2. Heat some oil / ghee in a pan and add bay leaf, crushed pepper, cloves, cinnamon stick, green cardamom, mustard seeds and cumin seeds to the pan.
3. When the whole spices turn fragrant and mustard & cumin start to crackle, add chana dal, urad dal & cashewnuts. Fry till the dals turn golden.
4. Add sliced green chilli, curry leaves, dried red chillies and asafoetida and saute for few seconds until the leaves begin to smell good.
5. Add sliced onions and fry them for a couple off minutes till slightly golden or transparent. Then add some ginger-garlic paste. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes till the raw sroma goes away.
6. Put sliced tomatoes in the pan. You can also use tomato puree instead. Fry the tomatoes for 3 - 4 minutes and then cover and cook till soft.
7. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, chopped mint leaves, coriander leaves and Salt. Mix the spices and saute till the mixture losses all the moisture and start leaving oil on the sides.
8. Add the washed rice to the pan, mix well and saute for 3 - 4 minutes. Then add 2 cups of water to rice. Cover with a lid and cook on medium flame for 10 minutes, or till the rice are cooked.
9. Tomato Rice are ready. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve them hot with any raita, curd, papad, sambhar or any curry of your choice.

TIPS:

• Tomato rice can be made from fresh tomatoes or tomato puree.
• Peanuts can also be added to give extra taste and crunch.
• You can use pav bhaji masala, bisi bele bath powder or vangi bath powder instead of garam masala. Each of these will give a different flavour to the rice.
• You can skip the whole spices, if you don't have or don't want them.
• You can use peas, potatoes, beans, carrot, soya chunks or even boiled eggs to have a different taste.
• If you want to use pre cooked or leftover rice, then follow the steps from 2 to 7. Then add the cooked rice to it and mix well untill the rice is coated well with the tomato mixture.

Do try this yummy South Indian style "Tomato rice" recipe for your lunch box and leave your comments below.