Tomato Rice is a delicious and comforting South Indian dish made with ripe tomatoes, fragrant spices, and cooked rice. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for busy weekdays, lunch boxes, or light dinners. The tangy taste of tomatoes combined with the aroma of tempering spices creates a flavourful rice dish that pairs beautifully with raita, papad, or a simple salad.
What is Tomato Rice?
Tomato Rice, also known as Thakkali Sadam, is a popular South Indian variety rice where cooked rice is mixed with a spicy tomato masala. The dish is prepared using fresh tomatoes, onions, green chilies, and a blend of spices that give it a vibrant color and irresistible aroma. It is loved for its simplicity and comforting taste.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
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Quick and easy to prepare
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Perfect lunch box recipe
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Uses simple pantry ingredients
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Naturally vegan and flavourful
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Great way to use leftover rice
Serving Suggestions
Tomato Rice tastes best when served hot with:
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Onion raita or cucumber raita
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Papad or appalam
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Potato fry
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Simple vegetable salad
It also works wonderfully as a lunch box meal because the flavours deepen as it rests.
Variations of Tomato Rice
There are many ways to prepare Tomato Rice depending on taste and regional preferences:
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Karnataka Style Tomato Bath – slightly spicy and aromatic with a special masala.
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Tamil Nadu Thakkali Sadam – tangy and simple with basic spices.
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Instant Tomato Rice – made using leftover rice for a quick meal.
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Pressure Cooker Tomato Rice – a one-pot version for convenience.
Tips for the Best Tomato Rice
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Use ripe and juicy tomatoes for the best flavour and colour.
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Cook the tomato masala well until the oil separates.
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Use cooled rice so the grains remain separate.
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Add a teaspoon of ghee at the end for extra aroma.
Thakkali Sadham
Equipment
- 1 Pressure cooker
- 1 Pan
Ingredients
- 6 no Tomato
- 2 no Onions
- 2 no Green chillies
- few Coriander
- few Curry leaves
- A pinch Asafoetida
- As req Salt
To grind
- 4 tsp Channa dhal
- 1 tbsp Coriander seeds
- 1 tsp Urad dhal
- 2 no Red chillies
For Seasoning
- 1 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1 tsp Channa dhal
- 1 tsp Urad dhal
- 1 tbsp Oil
Instructions
- Cut the tomatoes and mash it well.
- Chop the onions into small pieces.
- In a kadai, add oil and splutter the mustard seeds. Once they crack, add the channa dhal,urad dhal, coriander seeds and saute until they turn golden brown.
- Then add green chillies and onions, fry it till golden brown.
- Add the mashed tomatoes and allow it to cook well.
- When the raw smell of the tomatoes disappear, add turmeric powder, salt, Asafoetida and cook for two minutes.
- Then add the ground powder and mix well.
- Finally garnish it with the curry leaves and cilantro.
- The gravy should be thick like a paste.
- Mix with the hot rice and serve hot. it is also one of the best tiffin box recipes.
- It goes well with karuvadam/pappadam.
- You can use this paste as a side dish for curd rice.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut the tomatoes and mash it well. Chop the onions into small pieces.
- In a kadai, add oil and splutter the mustard seeds. Once they crack, add the channa dhal,urad dhal, coriander seeds and saute until they turn golden brown.
- Then add green chillies and onions, fry it till golden brown.
- Add the mashed tomatoes and allow it to cook well.
- When the raw smell of the tomatoes disappear, add turmeric powder, salt, Asafoetida and cook for two minutes.
- Then add the ground powder and mix well.
- Finally garnish it with the curry leaves and cilantro.
- The gravy should be thick like a paste.
- Mix with the hot rice and serve hot. it is also one of the best tiffin box recipes.
- It goes well with karuvadam/pappadam.
- You can use this paste as a side dish for curd rice.
