Tomato Rice / Thakkali Saadam

Tomato Rice / Thakkali Saadam

Serves: 2

You will need

For Rice:

2 cups cooked rice

or

1 cup ( 200 g ) silky raw rice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cup water

For seasoning:

1 tablespoon oil
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin ( jeera ) seeds
1/4 teaspoon urad dal
1 spring curry leaves
1 green chilli, slit lengthwise
1 onion, finely sliced
1 tomato, finely chopped ( 1 - 3 tomatoes, if you required ) or 2 tablespoon tomato puree
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
2 pinches asafoetida ( hing )
1 teaspoon chopped coriander leaves ( optional )

Method

For rice:

Wash and clean rice and soak in 3 1/2 cups water for half an hour. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook till done ( making sure that the grains are separate. Drain out water and keep aside for cooling ).

Final preparation:

Heat oil in a wide frying pan / kadai. Add mustard seeds. when they begin to pop, add cumin seeds ( jeera ) & urad dal. Fry for 2 minutes.

Add finely sliced onion and fry till golden color.

Add curry leaves and slit green chilli. Fry for 2 minutes.

Add chopped tomatoes and stir well on a medium heat for 5 minutes till the water from the tomatoes evaporates fully ( or till thick tomato mixture / tomato puree well mixed with spices and onions ).

Add red chilli powder, asafoetida and adjust salt to taste. Saute for 2 minutes.

Add cooked and cooled rice, stir well continuously until the tomato mixture well coated on rice evenly.

Garnish with chopped coriander leaves ( optional ) and serve with salad / pickle / fresh curd / papad / potato chips / Pringles.

Tomato rice is easy to prepare and you can take it for picnics also. Left over cooked rice also used for making tomato rice.