🍅 Tomato Rice

South Indian Thakkali Sadham

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️ Medium
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Serves: 3–4
Calories (approx): 340 kcal

🍛 One Pot, Thousand Stories

🌿 Introduction

Tomato rice is bold yet familiar — tangy tomatoes simmered with spices,
folded into rice that carries warmth and color.

It’s the kind of meal that rescues tired afternoons.

“Some flavors wake you up gently.”

Tomato Rice

Photo by Stirred By Spice

📝 Ingredients

Main Base

  • Cooked rice – 3 cups

  • Ripe tomatoes – 3 large, finely chopped

Aromatics

  • Onion – 1 medium, sliced

  • Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp

  • Green chili – 1, slit

Spices

  • Turmeric – ¼ tsp

  • Red chili powder – ½–1 tsp

  • Sambar powder – 1½ tsp

Tempering

  • Oil – 2 tbsp

  • Mustard seeds – 1 tsp

  • Urad dal – 1 tsp

  • Curry leaves – 10

Seasoning

  • Salt – to taste

  • Coriander leaves – 2 tbsp, chopped

🍽️ Instructions

  • Heat & Crackle – Heat oil, add mustard seeds and urad dal. Let dal turn golden.

  • Build the Base – Add onions, green chili, curry leaves. Sauté till soft.

  • Tomato Simmer – Add tomatoes, ginger-garlic paste, spices, and salt. Cook till thick and jammy.

  • Fold Rice – Add cooked rice and mix gently.

  • Finish Fresh – Garnish with coriander. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

🍷 Optional Serving Notes

Serve with curd, papad, or cucumber salad

Travels beautifully in lunchboxes

💬 Soulful Note

Tomato rice is the bridge between urgency and care —

quick enough for weekdays, comforting enough to feel intentional.

📚 Cook’s Wisdom / FAQs

📚Cook's Wisdom:

  • Too sour? Add a pinch of jaggery.

  • No sambar powder? Use coriander + cumin powder.

  • One-pot version? Cook rice directly in the tomato base with extra water.

📊 Nutrition (Per Serving — Approx.)

  • Calories 340

  • Protein 7g

  • Carbs 52g

  • Fat 11g

  • Fiber 4g

🍃🌶🍃 The Bottom Line

Tomato rice is warmth, color, and balance — a reminder that everyday food can still feel special.

🧡 Meet the Heart Behind the Spice

Maya Shetty – Stirred By Spice Author Photo

Hi, I’m Maya Shetty — cook, storyteller, and spice lover.

Through Stirred By Spice, I share recipes that warm both the kitchen and the heart — where simple ingredients and warm flavors turn everyday meals into moments of connection.

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