Tomato Rice

One of my favorite south Indian recipes.


The following recipe serves 4 people.
Time required: 30-40 minutes


Ingredients: 
Cooked rice - 4 cups
Tomatoes - 3 medium sized
Ginger paste - 1 tsp
Onion - 1/2 of medium sized
Oil - 3 tbsp
Urad daal (black lentils) - 1.5 tsp
Chana daal (yellow lentils) - 2 tsp
Green chili - 1
Dried red chilies - 3
Asafoetida - 2 piches
Cloves -2
Cumin seeds - 1.5 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Cashews - 7-8
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Garam masala - 1 tsp


Step 1: Soak the chana daal in water for 15-20 minutes. Drain the water. 


Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a pan on  medium. 
We need the following spices: Dry red chillies, cloves, turmeric, chili powder, asafoetida, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad daal, chana daal and cashews.

Add a couple of cumin seeds and wait for them to crackle.Then add the rest of the cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Add the dried red chilies.

Step 3: Add the asafoetida and chana daal. Add the cashews.Fry for 2-3 minutes.The cashews and the chana daal will go brownish.

Step 4: Add Urad daal, turmeric, red chili powder and cloves.The mixture might get a little frothy due to the turmeric.

Step 5: Add onion, chili and ginger paste. Add the garam masala. Mix well and fry till the onions become translucent.

Step 6:  Add the tomatoes. Mix well.

  Step 7: Cook the tomatoes for 10-12 minutes. Keep mashing the tomatoes with the spatula every few minutes.After 10-12 minutes the mixture will be almost paste like. Now add salt to taste.

After 8 minutes

After 12 minutes

Step 8: Add the cooked the rice. Mix well. Cook for 5 more minutes on medium heat.

Step 9: Enjoy Tomato rice.