Tomato Rice

#Second_Post

#TomatoRice
#SouthIndianPulao

"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.” -Brian O'Driscoll

For all those who love the tanginess of TOMATO, here it is the pulao a.k.a. Veg-biriyani filled with the tanginess of tomatoes.

FYI- Tomatoes are actually a fruit and the sour taste comes from the presence of oxalic acid in them.

REQUIREMENTS 

• 1 cup finely chopped tomatoes
• Finely chopped onions
• Finely chopped ginger and garlic
• Few green chilies finely chopped
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp fenugreek seeds
• Some aromatics such as cinnamon,2 green cardamoms and 2 to 3 cloves
• Ample amount of curry leaves
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tsp red chili powder
• ½ tsp black pepper powder or crushed black pepper
• ½ tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 2 tsp oil
• Salt to taste
• Cooked rice preferably stale(previous day's)

ALGORITHM FOR PREPARATION

• In a pan, heat 2 tbsp oil and keep in low flame. Add mustard seeds & fenugreek seeds and let them crackle.
• Then add ⅓ cup finely chopped onion and ½ inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms and 2 to 3 cloves.
• Stir and saute till the onions turn translucent and the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
•  Add the finely chopped tomatoes and ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ½ tsp red chili powder, ½ tsp black pepper powder or crushed black pepper, ½ tsp coriander powder and 1 tsp cumin powder.
• Stir very well and saute the tomatoes.the tomatoes should soften and become pulpy with oil releasing from the sides.
• Now add the rice and give a nice stir to make the masala to be coated nicely. (If you do not wish to use stale rice then use a pressure cooker, soak the rice grains in double amount of water for half an hour and then add the rice and water to the masala and cook till 3 whistles)

     GARNISHING

    For a good "graphic user interface" a.k.a. Garnishing use curry leaves or chopped mint

TIP

Add a little sambhar powder to give an added twist and extra punch.

Try it out with either vegetable raita or boondi raita.