Popular South Indian style rice preparation made using tomatoes and rice. Also known as Thakkali Sadam (Thakkali means tomato and sadam means rice in Tamil), its delicious and simple to prepare recipe loved by all.
I am supremely delighted to be sharing this family favorite recipe with you today. I have had this as a child and relished it every-time my dad made it and today I continue to devour it every-time KR makes it. Surprisingly, both their recipes tastes the same. I never really paid attention to my dad's style of cooking it, therefore I do not have that recipe, however every-time KR prepares it for me, it tastes exactly the same like my dad's. That makes this dish all the more special and close to my heart.
Certain days when mom would be in no mood cook a meal for all of us, my dad would step in and quickly whip us a delicious meal. Although he cooked occasionally, he was a great cook. His style of cooking was very different to my mom's. As a bachelor living independently, he had learnt to cook ans became quite skilled at as well. My mom coming from a conservative and traditional town, was pleasantly surprised to know that he could cook. 🙂 Our parents have always raised us (me and my brother) to be independent and not to divide house chores by gender. I salute them for that. Thankfully, KR is also of the same view and we plan to raise or future kids the same way.
Talking about this particular recipe, it's a one pot meal and can be made in literally 10 minutes. Actually, come to think of it, all my dad's recipes are quick and easy to make. 😉 Here is what you need to do. Heat oil/butter/ghee in a pan and temper mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once they crackle, add chana dal and urad dal. Fry them till they turn golden. Then add the chopped green chillies and curry leaves. Fry for a minute and then add chopped onions. Saute till they turn translucent.
Now add turmeric powder, chilly powder and salt. Saute for 30 seconds and then add the chopped tomatoes. Continue to cook the tomatoes till they turn pulpy. Then add the cooked rice. Mix it all together and cook for a minute or two. Lastly garnish it chopped cilantro.
Serve it warm along with some raita or plain yogurt along with some roasted papad.
This flavored rice is delicious. It has the tang from the tomatoes and the dal gives it some crunch. If you ever are looking for a simple home cooked vegetarian meal, then you must make this dish. It needs only basic ingredients that are easily available in the pantry and is very easy to make. Being a rice dish, it makes one hearty meal that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner.
South Indian Style Tomato Rice
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp ghee/oil/butter
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp chana dal
- 1 tbsp urad dal
- 4-5 green chillies
- 4-5 curry leaves
- 1 large onion
- 4 to matoes
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp chilly powder
- Salt as required
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Heat oil/butter/ghee in a pan and temper mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Once they crackle, add chana dal and urad dal. Fry them till they turn golden. Then add the chopped green chillies and curry leaves. Fry for a minute and then add chopped onions. Saute till they turn translucent.
- Now add turmeric powder, chilly powder and salt. Saute for 30 seconds and then add the chopped tomatoes. Continue to cook the tomatoes till they turn pulpy. Then add the cooked rice. Mix it all together and cook for a minute or two. Lastly garnish it chopped cilantro.
- Serve it warm along with some raita or plain yogurt.
If you too are voracious rice eaters like us, then check out these interesting rice preparations that you can make at the comfort of your homes. Eggplant Fried Rice | Vangi Bhaat | Brinjal Rice, Vegetarian Thai Chilly Fried Rice, Indian Coconut Rice, Pepper Rice With Black Eyed Peas, Traditional Curd Rice, Aromatic Turmeric Pilaf with Black Chana and Best Broccoli Masala Khichdi Ever!
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Can we skip onion in this recipe.
Thanks
yes you can.
Can you clarify whether or not the chana dal and the urad dal need to be precooked? I have dried beans and I’m thinking that frying them won’t cook them. Thank you!
Chana dal and urad need not be cooked before. Just saute them in oil. If you want you can just soak chana dal in water for 15 mins and then use. But urad dal can be added uncooked. Also, these are not beans, they are lentils. Just clarifying so that there is no confusion. Hope this was helpful.