South India is well known for its Rice Varieties or Kalavai Sadam. Now these quick rice varieties are a total blessing for many reasons, viz. One pot meals, basic ingredients from pantry and refrigerator, doesn’t need fancy accompaniments, can be consumed at room temperature and best to make when you are running short of time and yet want to feed your family a decent home cooked meal.
Well my reason to make this dish was simple – I was extremely tired of all the Diwali cleaning and cooking and just wanted something really simple that would only require a chopping board and a kadhai to cook the dish and me standing in the kitchen for just 30 odd minutes. With loads of tomatoes in the refrigerator, only one simple solution – Tomato Rice or Thakkali Sadam.
The Kadhai was wiped clean by both of us as we were famished after loads of pending work at home and also having eaten a very light breakfast. The curd as an accompaniment was extremely soothing for Narayan who doesn’t prefer a lot of spicy food unlike me. For the more adventure seeking (read Mirchi / Chili lover), try having it with some Mor Milaga or green chilies soaked in butter milk and salt mixture, sun dried & deep fried.
Tomato Rice is an excellent kid friendly recipe too (if you minus the red chili powder and the green chilies) or a great lunch box idea for adults. For kids, you can add some nachos or chips as an accompaniment or plain curd too if they like and for adults a raita or curd mixed with raw vegetables like cucumber and onions will be an excellent option.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of consuming tomatoes or making tomatoes a part of our diet. (Information source – MedicalNewsToday)
- Tomatoes contain folate that helps to balance homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid that results from protein breakdown. It is said to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The management of homocysteine levels by folate reduces one of the risk factors for heart disease.
- Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene, lutein, and beta-carotene. These are powerful antioxidants that have been shown to protect the eyes against light-induced damage, the development of cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
Many people argue whether eating raw tomato helps or cooking them into a sauce / gravy for consumption. Studies have proven that cooking tomatoes allow better absorption of the antioxidant lycopene which protects our cells from damage and also from certain cancers. It is also advised to store tomatoes at room temperature than in fridge, which most of us do thinking it may get spoilt, but in fact, the ripening process increases the level of the lycopene.
Disclaimer – I am no expert nor a Doctor / Nutritionist. I have always been fascinated with the entire process of food and its related information etc. This information is a result of reading couple of articles on health and food which I hope will benefit us all in the long term.
Do Read the detailed recipe & notes below.
Recipe for South Indian Tomato Rice / Thakkali Sadam
Cooking Time – 15 mins
Preparation Time – 20 mins (less in case you have leftover rice)
Serves 3 persons
Ingredients
- Cooked Rice – 2 cups
- Tomatoes – 3 big nos finely chopped
- Onion – 1 big finely chopped
- Jeera or Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
- Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Hing or Asafoetida – a pinch
- Oil – 1.5 tblsp
- Red chilli powder – ½ tsp
- Green chillies – 2 or 3 nos. finely chopped
- Salt as per taste
- Curry Leaves – 2 sprigs
- Chopped corrainder leaves as required
Method –
- Heat a non-stick kadhai, add oil and then the mustard seeds. Allow it to crackle.
- Now add the jeera or cumin seeds and a pinch of hing and some curry leaves. Once the jeera turns slightly brown, add the chopped onions and saute them over medium flame for about 4 minutes until the onions sweat and turn translucent.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder and the red chili powder along with some green chilies (optional if you don’t prefer it spicy) and saute the mixture well for another 5- 7 minutes until the tomatoes become soft and mushy.
- Once the tomato and onion mixture have cooked well, add salt and toss everything together once more before adding the cooked rice.
- Cover the kadhai with a lid and let it cook for 5-7 minutes on low flame allowing the masalas to coat the rice well.
- Switch off the flame, add chopped coriander leaves, toss it once again and serve it hot along with some cool curd, raita and some papad. I have served this with some deep fried dried chilies that have been soaked in buttermilk mixture (called Mor Milaga in South India).
Recipe Notes –
- You can use leftover rice too for making this dish. Just ensure you steam them or heat them in a microwave for few minutes before adding the same to the masalas. Ensures the rice absorbs the masala and doesn’t taste or feel dry in texture.
- Don’t add tomato puree instead of chopped tomatoes. The chopped tomatoes provide the bite and the tang to the dish which will otherwise be missing in case of puree.
- I have used Ponni Raw Rice for making this dish. You can however, make the same preferably with a non-fragrant rice like Kolam or Sona Masuri varieties.
- You can skip the part of adding green chilies and reduce the quantity of red chili powder too in case you don’t prefer spicy food.
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Vidya Narayan
Megala
26 Oct 2017No doubt that Thakkali sadam is a perfect comforting meal ! Btw thanks for sharing a great piece of information to keep tomatoes at room temperature !
Vidya Narayan
26 Oct 2017I 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.
flavourindulgence
26 Oct 2017Looks yumm
Vidya Narayan
26 Oct 2017thanks so much!
Nausheen Tarique
9 Apr 2019Dost!!!!!!
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
Vidya Narayan
9 Apr 2019Thank you for stopping by Naush and so glad to receive your wonderful feedback. I am truly happy.
jyo
26 Oct 2017One of the most fav at home….but mine is totally different version…and yours look too good ✌✌
Vidya Narayan
26 Oct 2017Thanks dear. That’s great. Would love to hear your version too. Is the recipe on your blog?
jyo
27 Oct 2017Still not yet….😊
ramyarecepies
26 Oct 2017Perfect 👌 looks yummy 😋
Vidya Narayan
26 Oct 2017thank you dear.
SOURAV MUKHERJEE
27 Oct 2017Feeling hungry, yaar !!!
Vidya Narayan
27 Oct 2017Glad to see here dost. Thank you so much for stopping by!
dimplescookbook
27 Oct 2017Perfect and simple recipe! I love the notes part in your posts.
Vidya Narayan
28 Oct 2017Thanks dear & so glad you like the notes section.
Sandhya
28 Oct 2017Vidya, tomato rice is a favorite of mine and the spicier the better 😉 those curd chilies are the perfect accompaniment with the rice! Drooling here!
anushascuisines
29 Oct 2017Love tomato rice…can have anytime…it’s so comforting…your version is slightly different from mine…its looking soo delicious!!!!!
Vidya Narayan
30 Oct 2017Thank 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?
anushascuisines
31 Oct 2017No dear… I will post it sometime 😊
Vidya Narayan
1 Nov 2017shall wait!
Anshu Agarwal
30 Oct 2017This is looking too delicious..wonderful tomato rice..Loved the post !!
Vidya Narayan
31 Oct 2017Thank you .. I love it nice and spicy ! Glad you liked it.
aplateofhappiness
1 Nov 2017I like Tomato Rice!!! Will try your recipe soon…
Vidya Narayan
1 Nov 2017Same here. Thank you so much. Do try & let me know your feedback, whenever you do.
InspiresN
6 Nov 2017love it! my favorite on day trips and picnics, sometimes I add a little garlic as well but I will try your version!
Vidya Narayan
7 Nov 2017yes 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!
InspiresN
7 Nov 2017very true and you are very welcome!
Ankita Dash
18 Nov 2017Ohh dear I heard a lot about this recipe. Will try soon..
Vidya Narayan
18 Nov 2017Is it? Then go ahead make some! you will love it im sure. Thank you
cookwithreena
7 Dec 2017All time Fav…
Vidya Narayan
7 Dec 2017Thanks a lot!
Drashti Dholakia
26 Mar 2018Tomato Rice is a favourite. Nicely explained recipe. Love the combination of flavours. This will go well with plain curd or any raita
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Curd or Raita is my pick too for pairing this rice, glad you liked it Drashti. Thanks a lot.
Shobha Keshwani
27 Mar 2018My fvourite.. Looks so delicious.
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Thank you so much.
Priya Suresh
27 Mar 2018Tomato 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.
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Oh roast potatoes and this is a wonderful combo.. You have tempted me to try this again, may be the weekend. Thank you so much.
Soma Mukherjee
27 Mar 2018One 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.
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Absolutely.. Anything homemade is better than outside food so this option works well. Thanks dear.
Rafeeda - The Big Sweet Tooth
27 Mar 2018I 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…
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Your 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.
Jagruti
28 Mar 2018There 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 🙂
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Absolutely 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.
mayurisjikoni
28 Mar 2018As 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.
Vidya Narayan
2 Apr 2018Glad my humble dish tempted you so much. Do try, easy to make and all ingredients are mostly available at home. Thanks so much.
Aruna
28 Mar 2018I am not a great fan of tomato but have learnt to love this recipe because my cousins love it. 😀
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018When 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.
Nandita Gupta
28 Mar 2018One 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
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Growing up, I always found tomatoes too sour, gradually grew a liking towards it. Thanks and glad you liked the rice.
JollyHomemadeRecipes
28 Mar 2018Love this exotic and flavourful tomato rice..this is my family fav recipe, love to eat with simple curd 😋
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Absolutely dear, curd is the best. Thanks so much.
Jyoti Babel
28 Mar 2018I 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.
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018It will surely be a favourite Jyoti, esp if you are a tomato fan. Thanks so much dear.
Priya Satheesh
28 Mar 2018This 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 🙂
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Actually 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.
sujithaeasycooking
28 Mar 2018Tomato 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..
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Absolutely true, makes life easy. Thanks dear.
marianasir1973
28 Mar 2018Hi 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! 😋
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Hey 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
cookingwithsapana
28 Mar 2018Tomato 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.
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Me too.. Thanks dear.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner
29 Mar 2018Classic and evergreen .Who can say no to this bowl of tomato rice.. Awesome dear..
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Agree with you dear, thanks so much.
Uma Srinivas
29 Mar 2018My all time favorite! Whenever I have left over rice my mind tell me to do tomato rice. Very simple but delicious rice 🙂
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Absolutely, Thanks dear.
Seema Doraiswamy Sriram
29 Mar 2018Love the collection of lunch box perfect kinds of rice you have created. simple delicate flavours yet comfort in every bite.
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Absolutely true.. all our south indian rice varieties are a blessings for easy cooking.
Cook with Smile..
29 Mar 2018You tempted me to make this for our lunch tomorrow… delicious, easy dish
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018I am myself planning to make some during the weekend.. Its pretty hot here so this is a relief!
jayashreetrao
29 Mar 2018Tomato rice is another flavourful one pot meal. It tastes good with any raita.
Vidya Narayan
29 Mar 2018Agree with you, thanks so much dear.
Sasmita Sahoo Samanta
29 Mar 2018So easy yet taste so delish ! this tomato rice is one of my fav variety of rice dish.
Vidya Narayan
2 Apr 2018Thanks a lot and glad you liked it
themadscientistskitchen
29 Mar 2018Vidya 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.
Vidya Narayan
2 Apr 2018ha 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.
Ruchisvegkitchen
29 Mar 2018One of my favourite dish.. simply love the flavours.. looks delicious
Vidya Narayan
2 Apr 2018Thanks so much, mine too
theyellowdaal
29 Mar 2018In 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. 😊
Vidya Narayan
2 Apr 2018Thats great to hear. Do try dear, I am sure you will love it. Thanks so much
Preethi Prasad
15 Apr 2018Tomato 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.
Vidya Narayan
18 Apr 2018Thank you so much dear. In summers, I survive on these rice varieties purely. Cannot pull myself together to make rotis.