Tomato Rice is a gluten free, Vegan and Easy One Pot meal made with tomatoes, Cooked rice and everyday spices. Works for lunchbox or potluck too.
One Pot Meals are anyone’s dream come true – less dishes to wash, lesser prep work and almost handsfree. Click here to check over 50+ easy and fuss free One Pot meals
Today’s dish is a family favourite – Thakkali Saadam or Tomato Rice. I have grown up in Bangalore (where it was called Tomato Bhaath – Bhaath meaning rice variant) eating this for lunch often at college cafeterias. This version of Tomato Rice I learnt from the husband man as he is a pro at making it. I think men have an innate and quirky way of making the mundane also tasty, and this was no exception.
Other easy rice dishes (basically dump and go) rice dishes you might like:
Tips to make a tasty Tomato Rice:
- Cool the cooked rice thoroughly. fluff them with a fork so the grains are separate
- Use good quality tomatoes
- If the tomatoes are sour, skip the amchur / dry mango powder as indicated in the video recipe, else add in for a tangy kick
- You may add minced bell peppers or blanched peas to this dish for a slight variation
- Short grained rice works best, although you use basmati too (water proportion will vary accordingly)
Let’s move to today’s recipe and see how to make this flavourful One Pot meal that can be put together by even bachelors / bachelorettes.
Prep time : 20 mins, Cook time : 20 mins , Serves : 3
Course : Main Course, South Indian
Serving Suggestions : Onion Raita / Thayir Pachadi / Plain Curd + papad (we love it plain though)
Spice level : Medium
Recipe Source : Husband man 🙂
PIN FOR LATER
Ingredients for Tomato Rice :
- 1 cup Rice
- 600 grams Tomatoes (fleshy variety,split use)
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Kashmiri CHilli powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
- 1/2 tsp Red Chilli powder (paprika)
- 1 Onions (large, minced)
- Garlic – 2 cloves (minced)
To be ground to a paste:
- 2 tomatoes
- 1/2 inch ginger
Tempering:
- 4 tsp Oil(any neutral oil)
- 1 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp split black gra (Urad dal)
- 1 tsp Cashews (skip for nut allergy)
- 2 Green chillies (slit lengthwise)
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
How to make Easy Tomato Rice:
- Cook rice with required water into separate grains. Cool and fluff the rice in a large flat plate.
- Chop remaining tomatoes (2 nos) into chunks with the skin on.
- Grind the ingredients under “to paste” and keep aside.
- Heat oil. Splutter the mustard seeds, urad dal, green chillies, minced garlic cashews (if using) & curry leaves. Once the curry leaves wilt a bit, add turmeric, garlic and the onions, diced tomatoes.
- Saute for 3-4 mins till raw smell disappears.
- Now add the pureed tomatoes and let it turn soft and mushy. Add the spice powders, salt and mix well.
- Cook and cover till you get a thickish gravy and oil starts leaving the sides.
- Let the thickish gravy cool a bit.
- Then add the cooked rice, toss a bit and check for salt and seasonings.
- Serve hot or warm with curd or raitha / pachadi. We love it as is.
Liked this recipe? SIGN UP FOR THE Sizzling Tastebuds Newsletter (No Spam, Promise!) for fresh, healthy and tasty recipes right into your inbox. Please consider leaving a star ???? rating on this recipe to encourage us . Do FOLLOW Sizzling Tastebuds ON Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest AND Instagram for fresh content, latest recipes and much more!
Thakkali Saadam | How to make spicy tomato rice | Main course dishes |
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker Can also use Open Pot
- Knife
- Chopping Board
- Pots and Pans
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raw rice any short grained variety will do
- 600 grams Tomatoes fleshy variety, split use
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp Kashmiri Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala powder
- 1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder paprika
- 1 Onions large, minced
- 2 Garlic pods minced
To be ground to a paste:
- 1/2 inch ginger
- 2 Tomato
Tempering:
- 4 tsp Oil any neutral oil
- 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1/2 tsp split black gram Urad dal
- 1 tsp Cashews skip for nut allergy
- 2 Green Chillies slit lengthwise
- 1 sprig Curry Leaves
Instructions
- Cook rice with required water into separate grains. Cool and fluff the rice in a large flat plate.
- Chop remaining tomatoes (2 nos) into chunks with the skin on.
- Grind the ingredients under “to paste” and keep aside.
- Heat oil. Splutter the mustard seeds, urad dal, green chillies, minced garlic cashews (if using) & curry leaves. Once the curry leaves wilt a bit, add turmeric, garlic and the onions, diced tomatoes.
- Saute for 3-4 mins till raw smell disappears.
- Now add the pureed tomatoes and let it turn soft and mushy. Add the spice powders, salt and mix well.
- Cook and cover till you get a thickish gravy and oil starts leaving the sides.
- Let the thickish gravy cool a bit.
- Then add the cooked rice, toss a bit and check for salt and seasonings.
- Serve hot or warm with curd or raitha / pachadi. We love it as is.
Video
Notes
- Cool the cooked rice thoroughly. fluff them with a fork so the grains are separate
- Use good quality tomatoes
- If the tomatoes are sour, skip the amchur / dry mango powder as indicated in the video recipe, else add in for a tangy kick
- You may add minced bell peppers or blanched peas to this dish for a slight variation
- Short grained rice works best, although you use basmati too (water proportion will vary accordingly)
looks very inviting Kalyani…i loved the clarity of the last pic…
Can smell the flavour of this lipsmacking tomato rice, loving it Kalyani.
Thakkali sadam looks very flavorful.
You have expressed it so well Kalyani. A beautiful way to wish Valli 🙂
Lovely post Kalyani. You have summed up everything so beautifully.
Super!! the comfort of these easy meals are not easy to describe. THey have to be felt and then it sinks in. Thakkali sadam is one very often recipe for us a we have a huge thakkali lover in the house.
absolutely Seema – needs to be felt 🙂 we have a HUGE tomato lover at home too!
Past two days, I am thinking about this dish and not preparing it. Good to see on your blog, will make it for our weekend menu Kalyani.
ah that’s so nice to know Jayashree
Your beautiful clicks are a reminder that I’ve yet to try making tomato rice in my kitchen. I’ve enjoyed this delicious rice several times from restaurants or friends home. It sure is a delicious and comforting dish.
thank you Mayuri. it sure is easy, delish and comforting too
My favorite simple and easy tomato rice. I love the ease with which it take a meal from bah to yeah! ( my daughters words). Getting lovely tomatoes now and hence making some today.
bah to yeah ! lol ???? that’s a term I can use to market other dishes now. Hope you like this arch