Thakkali Sadam or South Indian Tomato Rice - An easy 30 min flavorful and delectable rice recipe from the South Indian cuisine using leftover rice, tomatoes, onions, fresh herbs and spices.
Thakkali Sadam or Tomato Rice is a Tamil style rice recipe made with precooked rice in an onion-tomato spicy masala. Known as variety rice or kalavai sadam in South Indian cuisine, this dish is perfect for busy weekdays, lunch box etc.
This is my go-to lunch box recipe. Thakkali sadam can be prepared using freshly cooked rice or leftover rice. Once rice is ready, the rest of the dish comes together within 20 minutes.
In comparison to Lemon Rice and Coconut Rice, Tomato Rice is slightly spicier. Easy to cook, basic ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator, doesn’t need a fancy side dish.
South Indian Tomato Rice is Vegan, soy-free. It can be easily gluten free if you skip asafoetida or hing.
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Ingredients
Cooked Rice - You can use freshly cooked rice or use leftovers.
Traditionally, short grain rice is preferred. Ponni, Kolam, Sonamasuri are some of the varieties. Brown rice and Basmati Rice are great options.
Other short grain fragrant rice varieties include Gobindobhog, Ambemohar and Jeeraga Samba rice.
Rice can be cooked on stove top, instant pot or pressure cooker.
Texture of leftover rice can be dry at times. For a fluffy rice texture, sprinkle some water over the rice and then re-heat in the microwave for 30 secs to 1 minute.
Fresh Tomato - This dish calls for fresh tomatoes. If you don't have access to fresh tomatoes, use canned diced tomatoes.
Pro tip Store tomatoes at room temperature instead of refrigerator. The ripening process increases the level of the lycopene in the tomatoes.
Onion - cooked with tomatoes, this forms the base of tomato rice.
Sesame Oil - Traditionally, sesame oil is preferred. However, you can use avocado oil, peanut oil or olive oil.
Rest of the ingredients are available in the recipe card below.
How to Make Tomato Rice
Chop all the ingredients i.e. Onion, Tomatoes, Green Chilies and keep cooked rice ready for preparing Tomato Rice.
Heat a non stick kadhai or wok, add sesame oil and mustard seeds.
Once mustard crackles, add a pinch of hing or asafoetida. Add Chana Dal, whole red chillies and then the chopped onions. Saute this over medium heat until the onions turn translucent.
Now add chopped tomatoes with finely chopped green chillies and curry leaves.
Mix well and then add turmeric powder, chilli powder and some salt to taste.
Cook this mixture. The tomatoes should be mushy in texture and then it is time to add the cooked rice.
Garnish thakkali sadam with chopped coriander leaves and serve piping hot with an accompaniment of your choice.
Variations
Substitute rice with cooked Quinoa or cauliflower rice (low-carb).
Add some protein - Cooked Chickpeas, kidney beans or black beans.
Stuffed Peppers with Tomato Rice - Stuff tomato rice in bell peppers and bake it with some grated cheese.
Side Dish for Tomato Rice
Most South Indian Variety Rice recipes are served with vegetable stir fry (poriyal), thayir pachadi (raita) and papadam or potato chips.
Hands down, Potato Roast is one of the best side dish for thakkali sadam. It can be packed for lunch box. Potato Roast also tastes great with lemon rice, coconut rice and curd rice.
Kootu makes a healthy and filling lunch option with tomato rice. Please refer to the blog for different varieties of Kootu recipes.
Thayir Pachadi (South Indian Raita) - Vendakkai Pachadi (Okra is a great combo with tomato rice), Onion Raita and Carrot Pachadi. My husband loves tomato rice with boondi raita.
Storage / Leftovers / Re-heating
If you are making tomato rice using fresh rice, the shelf life is upto 2 days. This also depends on weather condition. In summer, the shelf life reduces.
If using leftover rice, I would advise consuming the dish as soon as you can.
Leftovers can be used within 24-48 hours. It can be reheated in a microwave.
South Indian Rice Varieties
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Thakkali Sadam | Tomato Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon Sesame Oil substitute with peanut oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil or any cooking oil of your choice.
- ½ teaspoon Mustard Seeds or Rai
- 1 tablespoon Chana Dal (Kadala Paruppu or Bengal Gram Dal)
- 2-3 Dry Whole Red Chilies
- 2-3 Green Chilies finely chopped (read notes)
- A pinch of asafoetida or hing
- Few sprigs of Curry Leaves
- 3 Onions medium, finely chopped
- 5 Tomatoes medium, finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- ½ teaspoon Kashmiri Red chilli powder
- Salt to taste
- 5 cups Cooked Rice See Notes below
- Finely chopped coriander leaves for garnish
Instructions
- Begin prep by chopping ingredients - tomato, onion, green chilies. Keep cooked rice ready.
- Heat a pan, kadhai or wok, add sesame oil and mustard seeds.
- Once mustard crackles, add Chana Dal, dry whole red chilies, hing or asafoetida and finely chopped onions.
- Saute onions over medium heat until translucent.
- To this, add chopped tomatoes, green chilies and curry leaves.
- Mix well. Add spices (turmeric and red chili powder) together with salt to taste.
- Cook the onion-tomato mixture until the tomatoes are mushy and there is no raw smell.
- Next add the cooked rice, some salt and mix the rice with the onion tomato mixture. Reduce heat, cover the pan with a lid and let it cook for 5 minutes.
- After 5 minutes, open the lid, check seasoning. Switch off flame, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves. Mix and Serve.
Notes
- Traditionally, short grain rice is used. Ponni, Kolam, Sonamasuri are some of the varieties. Brown rice and Basmati Rice can be used. Other short grain fragrant rice varieties like Gobindobhog, Ambemohar and Jeeraga Samba rice can be used.
- Rice can be pressure cooked, cooked in Instant Pot or directly on stove top.
- Pressure Cooked Rice - 1 cup of short grain rice : 1.5 cups of water. 2-3 whistles. You can also use Basmati Rice or Brown Rice. Refer to Instant Pot Basmati Rice and / or short grain Brown Rice blog post for instructions.
- Texture of leftover rice can be dry at times. For a fluffy rice texture, sprinkle some water over the rice, re-heat in the microwave for 30 secs to 1 minute.
- Fresh tomatoes are recommended. Canned diced tomatoes is a great substitute when fresh ones are not available. Don't use tomato paste for this recipe, its quite strong / concentrated.
- Recipe calls for dry red chilies, red chili powder and green chilies. Please feel free to adjust quantities as per your preference. Traditionally all the 3 ingredients are added.
- Salt is added at 2 stages - Once while cooking the onion tomato mixture and the other while adding cooked rice. If you add salt while cooking rice, adjust seasoning accordingly. Always taste, check and add extra, only if required.
- The recipe is Vegan, Soy-free. I have used Sesame Oil which can be substituted with any cooking oil of your choice. The rice can be easily gluten-free if you skip asafoetida or hing from the recipe.
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We will be back again with yet another exciting recipe .. Until then, stay healthy and happy!
Vidya Narayan
No doubt that Thakkali sadam is a perfect comforting meal ! Btw thanks for sharing a great piece of information to keep tomatoes at room temperature !
I completely agree. Isn't it a great tip about the tomatoes? All the while I was storing them in the fridge too before I came across this information. thank you dear.
Looks yumm
thanks so much!
Dost!!!!!!
Tried your recipe a few days back n everyone in home was how come the food tastes sooo good today.. ha..haa..haaa..
Loved the notes too, otherwise would have added puree instead of tomatoes.
Thank you so much for this awesome recipe
Thank you for stopping by Naush and so glad to receive your wonderful feedback. I am truly happy.
One of the most fav at home....but mine is totally different version...and yours look too good ??
Thanks dear. That's great. Would love to hear your version too. Is the recipe on your blog?
Still not yet....?
Perfect ? looks yummy ?
thank you dear.
Feeling hungry, yaar !!!
Glad to see here dost. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Perfect and simple recipe! I love the notes part in your posts.
Thanks dear & so glad you like the notes section.
Vidya, tomato rice is a favorite of mine and the spicier the better 😉 those curd chilies are the perfect accompaniment with the rice! Drooling here!
Love tomato rice...can have anytime...it’s so comforting...your version is slightly different from mine...its looking soo delicious!!!!!
Thank you dear & i agree its quick and comforting meal option. Would love to see your version of tomato rice too. Is it on your blog?
No dear... I will post it sometime ?
shall wait!
This is looking too delicious..wonderful tomato rice..Loved the post !!
Thank you .. I love it nice and spicy ! Glad you liked it.
I like Tomato Rice!!! Will try your recipe soon...
Same here. Thank you so much. Do try & let me know your feedback, whenever you do.
love it! my favorite on day trips and picnics, sometimes I add a little garlic as well but I will try your version!
yes its a perfect one pot meal & doesn't need any fancy accompaniment... a good bag of potato chips does the trick! ha ha.. Thank you so much!
very true and you are very welcome!
Ohh dear I heard a lot about this recipe. Will try soon..
Is it? Then go ahead make some! you will love it im sure. Thank you
All time Fav...
Thanks a lot!
Tomato Rice is a favourite. Nicely explained recipe. Love the combination of flavours. This will go well with plain curd or any raita
Curd or Raita is my pick too for pairing this rice, glad you liked it Drashti. Thanks a lot.
My fvourite.. Looks so delicious.
Thank you so much.
Tomato rice is one of my weakness, serve me with fried potatoes, i can sit and eat without any fuss. Love this flavorful rice very much anytime of the day.
Oh roast potatoes and this is a wonderful combo.. You have tempted me to try this again, may be the weekend. Thank you so much.
One pot meal when in a hurry is just such a life saviour, and the tomato rice looks so flavourful love to try the recipe some day.
Absolutely.. Anything homemade is better than outside food so this option works well. Thanks dear.
I always feel that Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka sides have so many wide variety of one pot rice meals that do not fail to excite me! I would've made Thakkali saadam everyday if my kids would eat it. I totally love it while my two hate tomatoes and can't stand the sight of it... 🙁 All you need is a big bowl of raita and a nice helping of achaar... Ah, I am drooling here...
Your kids sound like me when I was young, I hated the tanginess of tomatoes and preferred it only in rasam. Growing up, I became fond of it. Though still I dont like if there are too many tomatoes in the gravy or for that matter even extra tamarind in a dish. This is something that both of us like at home, controlled tanginess and spices. Raita and this is the best combo for heat.. Wish I could make a big bowl of this and send over to you, had we stayed closer. Thanks Rafee.
There are so many version of tomato rice out there, we love quite a few and now I'm adding your version too as my daughter needs many 🙂 Easy and flavourful tomato rice and papad, I'm happy 🙂
Absolutely true about the versions, my mom made it in a different way than I do, I restrict the use of tomatoes as we don't prefer the khatta version. This is something we dont mind over indulging. thanks dear.. Papad makes rice dishes complete.
As soon as I saw the picture of your tomato rice, I thought " I wish I could have some now." Its been ages since I've had tomato rice. A tempting recipe.
Glad my humble dish tempted you so much. Do try, easy to make and all ingredients are mostly available at home. Thanks so much.
I am not a great fan of tomato but have learnt to love this recipe because my cousins love it. 😀
When I was a child, I hated tomatoes and preferred it only in rasam but gradually grew up liking it. Me and husband dont prefer too tangy foods actually so the quantity of tamarind too at our place is limited.
One of my favorite vegetables is tomato and I love tomato rice. Yours looks vibrant and delicious. I would love to give this version a try
Growing up, I always found tomatoes too sour, gradually grew a liking towards it. Thanks and glad you liked the rice.
Love this exotic and flavourful tomato rice..this is my family fav recipe, love to eat with simple curd ?
Absolutely dear, curd is the best. Thanks so much.
I have never tried making tomato rice. But this one looks perfectly done. I love tomatoes - raw in a salad or in cooked in soups. It's about time I tried tomato rice. Who knows it might become a favourite.
It will surely be a favourite Jyoti, esp if you are a tomato fan. Thanks so much dear.
This is my family's all time favourite rice but I used to add puree as my son pick all the tomatoes from it.. Looks inviting and your post reminds me that its been long time, I prepared this 🙂
Actually my mom used both the puree and the cut pieces of tomatoes but since it gets really tangy, me and husband dont prefer the same. This is our version, most comfortable with the basic spices and minimal tomatoes. Thanks dear.
Tomato rice is my super quick lunch box recipe. Whenever i feel bored in the morning tomato rice hits a quick hit to finish my work ease..
Absolutely true, makes life easy. Thanks dear.
Hi Vidya! This sounds so convenient and comforting that I'm wondering why haven't I tried cooking this so far! I'm a rice lover which means there are always leftover rice in my refrigerator. Even now! So this shall be lunch tomorrow. ?
P.S. those fried chillies on the side have my name written all over them! ?
Hey thats super great to hear. The fried chillies are all yours my dear and will remember you the next time I fry a batch! I love them too. thanks a ton
Tomato rice is one of my favorite rice-based dishes and I love the fact that it is super easy and comforting one pot meal too.
Me too.. Thanks dear.
Classic and evergreen .Who can say no to this bowl of tomato rice.. Awesome dear..
Agree with you dear, thanks so much.
My all time favorite! Whenever I have left over rice my mind tell me to do tomato rice. Very simple but delicious rice 🙂
Absolutely, Thanks dear.
Love the collection of lunch box perfect kinds of rice you have created. simple delicate flavours yet comfort in every bite.
Absolutely true.. all our south indian rice varieties are a blessings for easy cooking.
You tempted me to make this for our lunch tomorrow... delicious, easy dish
I am myself planning to make some during the weekend.. Its pretty hot here so this is a relief!
Tomato rice is another flavourful one pot meal. It tastes good with any raita.
Agree with you, thanks so much dear.
So easy yet taste so delish ! this tomato rice is one of my fav variety of rice dish.
Thanks a lot and glad you liked it
Vidya I am in love with your tomato rice. The simplicity of it is something I love but ... my kiddo does not like this kind of rice, hubby would not like to eat rice and poor FIL has got no say. But what say holidays are few and so tomorrow we will have tomato rice as a side for poor old slogging me. 😀 The rest can have their chapatti and bhaji.
ha ha .. I am having a hearty laugh reading this. Sometimes making food for everyone makes us forget what we actually want to eat. I guess you have made your decision and hope you make the most of it .. Thanks so much my dear.
One of my favourite dish.. simply love the flavours.. looks delicious
Thanks so much, mine too
In punjabi's we make a simply tadke wale chawal that has less about of tomatoes and no curry leaves. Now moved to Mumbai so I use a lot of curry leaves in my cooking. Will try this recipe soon as I have a bowl of leftover rice to use up. ?
Thats great to hear. Do try dear, I am sure you will love it. Thanks so much
Tomato rice is a regular at my place especially when i am late from work .Would love to have it with mor molaga and yogurt.Loved the beautiful clicks that make it more tempting.
Thank you so much dear. In summers, I survive on these rice varieties purely. Cannot pull myself together to make rotis.
Great recipe , Your method is very encouraging.
Thanks
Hi Vidya, I love this recipe and tempting me to try it !!!?
Hi, please try and let me know how it turned out. Cheers and thank you
Sure I will !!!?