Main Course, One Pot Meals

Thakkali Saadam | How to make spicy tomato rice | Main course dishes

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Tomato Rice is a gluten free, Vegan and Easy One Pot meal made with tomatoes, Cooked rice and everyday spices. Works for lunchbox or potluck too. 

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Today’s dish is a family favourite – Thakkali Saadam or Tomato Rice. I have grown up in Bangalore (where it was called Tomato Bhaath – Bhaath meaning rice variant) eating this for lunch often at college cafeterias. This version of Tomato Rice I learnt from the husband man as he is a pro at making it. I think men have an innate and quirky way of making the mundane also tasty, and this was no exception. 

Tomato Rice is a gluten free, Vegan and Easy One Pot meal made with tomatoes, Cooked rice and everyday spices. Works for lunchbox or potluck too.Pin

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Tips to make a tasty Tomato Rice:

  1. Cool the cooked rice thoroughly. fluff them with a fork so the grains are separate
  2. Use good quality tomatoes
  3. If the tomatoes are sour, skip the amchur / dry mango powder as indicated in the video recipe, else add in for a tangy kick
  4. You may add minced bell peppers or blanched peas to this dish for a slight variation
  5. Short grained rice works best, although you use basmati too (water proportion will vary accordingly)

Let’s move to today’s recipe and see how to make this flavourful One Pot meal that can be put together by even bachelors / bachelorettes. 

Prep time : 20 mins, Cook time : 20 mins , Serves : 3

Course : Main Course, South Indian

Serving Suggestions :  Onion Raita / Thayir Pachadi / Plain Curd + papad (we love it plain though)

Spice level : Medium

Recipe Source : Husband man 🙂

PIN FOR LATER

Tomato Rice is a gluten free, Vegan and Easy One Pot meal made with tomatoes, Cooked rice and everyday spices. Works for lunchbox or potluck too.Pin

Ingredients for Tomato Rice :

  • 1 cup Rice
  • 600 grams Tomatoes (fleshy variety,split use)
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri CHilli powder
  • 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Red Chilli powder (paprika)
  • 1 Onions (large, minced)
  • Garlic – 2 cloves (minced)
Tomato Rice is a gluten free, Vegan and Easy One Pot meal made with tomatoes, Cooked rice and everyday spices. Works for lunchbox or potluck too.Pin

To be ground to a paste:

  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1/2 inch ginger

Tempering:

  • 4 tsp Oil(any neutral oil)
  • 1 tsp Mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp split black gra (Urad dal)
  • 1 tsp Cashews (skip for nut allergy)
  • 2 Green chillies (slit lengthwise)
  • 1 sprig Curry leaves

How to make Easy Tomato Rice:

  1. Cook rice with required water into separate grains. Cool and fluff the rice in a large flat plate. 
  2. Chop remaining tomatoes (2 nos) into chunks with the skin on.
  3. Grind the ingredients under “to paste” and keep aside.
  4. Heat oil. Splutter the mustard seeds, urad dal, green chillies, minced garlic cashews (if using) & curry leaves. Once the curry leaves wilt a bit, add turmeric, garlic and the onions, diced tomatoes.
  5. Saute for 3-4 mins till raw smell disappears.
  6. Now add the pureed tomatoes and let it turn soft and mushy. Add the spice powders, salt and mix well.
  7. Cook and cover till you get a thickish gravy and oil starts leaving the sides.
  8. Let the thickish gravy cool a bit.
  9. Then add the cooked rice, toss a bit and check for salt and seasonings.
  10. Serve hot or warm with curd or raitha / pachadi. We love it as is.

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Tomato Rice is a gluten free, Vegan and Easy One Pot meal made with tomatoes, Cooked rice and everyday spices. Works for lunchbox or potluck too.Pin

Thakkali Saadam | How to make spicy tomato rice | Main course dishes |

Kalyani
Tomato Rice is a gluten free, Vegan and Easy One Pot meal made with tomatoes, Cooked rice and everyday spices. Works for lunchbox or potluck too. 
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Course, RIce
Cuisine South Indian, Tamilnadu Cusine
Servings 4 servings
Calories 373 kcal

Equipment

  • Pressure Cooker Can also use Open Pot
  • Knife
  • Chopping Board
  • Pots and Pans

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Raw rice any short grained variety will do
  • 600 grams Tomatoes fleshy variety, split use
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri Chilli Powder
  • 1 tsp Garam Masala powder
  • 1/2 tsp Red Chilli Powder paprika
  • 1 Onions large, minced
  • 2 Garlic pods minced

To be ground to a paste:

  • 1/2 inch ginger
  • 2 Tomato

Tempering:

  • 4 tsp Oil any neutral oil
  • 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
  • 1/2 tsp split black gram Urad dal
  • 1 tsp Cashews skip for nut allergy
  • 2 Green Chillies slit lengthwise
  • 1 sprig Curry Leaves

Instructions
 

  • Cook rice with required water into separate grains. Cool and fluff the rice in a large flat plate.
  • Chop remaining tomatoes (2 nos) into chunks with the skin on.
  • Grind the ingredients under “to paste” and keep aside.
  • Heat oil. Splutter the mustard seeds, urad dal, green chillies, minced garlic cashews (if using) & curry leaves. Once the curry leaves wilt a bit, add turmeric, garlic and the onions, diced tomatoes.
  • Saute for 3-4 mins till raw smell disappears.
  • Now add the pureed tomatoes and let it turn soft and mushy. Add the spice powders, salt and mix well.
  • Cook and cover till you get a thickish gravy and oil starts leaving the sides.
  • Let the thickish gravy cool a bit.
  • Then add the cooked rice, toss a bit and check for salt and seasonings.
  • Serve hot or warm with curd or raitha / pachadi. We love it as is.

Video

Notes

Tips to make a tasty Tomato Rice:
  1. Cool the cooked rice thoroughly. fluff them with a fork so the grains are separate
  2. Use good quality tomatoes
  3. If the tomatoes are sour, skip the amchur / dry mango powder as indicated in the video recipe, else add in for a tangy kick
  4. You may add minced bell peppers or blanched peas to this dish for a slight variation
  5. Short grained rice works best, although you use basmati too (water proportion will vary accordingly)

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 8gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 901mgPotassium: 854mgFiber: 7gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2803IUVitamin C: 59mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Gluten Free, Lunchbox Ideas, Rice Variant, Rice Variety, Thakkali Sadam, Tomato, Tomato Bhath, Tomato Rice, Vegan
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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13 Comments

  1. The Pumpkin Farm

    looks very inviting Kalyani…i loved the clarity of the last pic…

  2. Priya Suresh

    Can smell the flavour of this lipsmacking tomato rice, loving it Kalyani.

  3. cookingwithsapana

    Thakkali sadam looks very flavorful.

  4. You have expressed it so well Kalyani. A beautiful way to wish Valli 🙂

  5. Lovely post Kalyani. You have summed up everything so beautifully.

  6. Seema Sriram

    5 stars
    Super!! the comfort of these easy meals are not easy to describe. THey have to be felt and then it sinks in. Thakkali sadam is one very often recipe for us a we have a huge thakkali lover in the house.

  7. Jayashree. T. Rao

    5 stars
    Past two days, I am thinking about this dish and not preparing it. Good to see on your blog, will make it for our weekend menu Kalyani.

  8. Mayuri Patel

    5 stars
    Your beautiful clicks are a reminder that I’ve yet to try making tomato rice in my kitchen. I’ve enjoyed this delicious rice several times from restaurants or friends home. It sure is a delicious and comforting dish.

  9. 5 stars
    My favorite simple and easy tomato rice. I love the ease with which it take a meal from bah to yeah! ( my daughters words). Getting lovely tomatoes now and hence making some today.

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