Tomato Rice

For the simple, simple pleasure of eating a quick, yet deeply soul satifying meal, all you need is a fridge overflowing with tomatoes and a husband who thinks the world of your 'special' skills with the fruit.

Though spicy, for me its a great summer meal, especially washed down with a can of beer, and for that reason alone it works well in the winter as well! Here's my take on Takkali Saadam or Tomato Rice for the uninitiated.

Ingredients:
Rice - 2 cups
Water - 4 cups
Really ripe Tomatoes - 4,5 big ones
Onion - 1 large
Garlic - 6 pods
Ginger - 1 Tbsp
Green chillies - 2
Turmeric - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Garam Masala - 1 Tbsp
Dhaniya (coriander) pdr - 1 tsp
Red Chilly pdr - 1 tsp
Sugar - 1 Tbsp
Coriander - 1 generous bunch
Oil - 2 Tbsp
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash the rice well and keep aside.

2. Cut the tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger and the green chillies lengthwise.

3. Chop up the coriander leaves finely. (I use leaves, stem and all - better flavour, more fibre.)

4. Heat oil in a deep skillet and drop in the cumin, fry. Now add the onions, chillies, garlic and ginger - sauté well - until some of the onion starts caramelising.

5. Add the tomatoes - fry for about a minute till all the liquid oozes out.

6. Now one by one add the dry ingredients and keep stirring as you go along. That is, the turmeric, chilly pdr, garam masala, coriander pdr, salt and the sugar.

7. Point to note is that if you like it spicier increase the chilly pdr or the amount of green chillies. And just don't add any - if you have a problem with spicy!

8. Let the dry flavours mix in well with the tomato mixture - after about a minute or more lower the flame and stir in the rice followed by double the water (4 cups water for 2 cups rice, as in this case). Mix well. Taste for salt and the rest of the seasoning. The taste does mellow a bit after the rice cooks.

9. Cover the skillet and let the rice cook on slow flame. Stir once in a while and turn off heat when the rice is almost done & garnish with coriander leaves - don't worry it'll be perfect while you fix yourself a drink, and get the rest of the eats ready.

the whole blessed meal

Rest of the eats: Curd rice & Beetroot raita. Coming up, shortly!