Tomato Rice

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Here comes the next one in the series of lunch-box-recipes, the Tomato rice. Yes, this too is a quick one that fits into the busy morning cooking schedule, and the below line holds good too :-)

 Simple. Quick. Flavorful.

 Ingredients:
  • Basmati Rice - 2 cups ( wash and soak for 15 minutes)
  • Tomatoes - 4 medium sized
  • Fresh Mint leaves - a few
  • Fresh Coriander - a few sprigs
  • Green Chilies - 3 (more or less based on required spice level)
  • Onion - 1 (finely sliced length wise)
  • Ginger-Garlic paste - 2 tsp
  • Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp
  • Biryani masala powder or Garam masala - 1 tsp
  • yogurt  - 1 tbsp
  • Oil / Ghee
  • Salt - 1 1/2 tsp 
  • Water  - 3.25 cups
  • Whole spices: cloves - 3, cinnamon - 1 inch, bay leave - 1, cardamom - 1, star anise - 1, shajeera - 1/4 tsp
Procedure:
  1. In the pressure pan, heat oil and ghee. Add shajeera followed by all other whole spices. Do not over heat the oil or the spices will be burnt.
  2. Add the slit green chilies and chopped onion.
  3. Saute till the onion turn translucent. Then add ginger-garlic paste and fry for another couple of minutes. 
  4. Add the red chili powder and masala powder. Fry a couple of minutes.
  5. Add the chopped tomatoes and on medium flame fry until mushy. Add 1/2 tsp salt.
  6. Add fresh mint leaves and chopped coriander leaves.
  7. Drain the rice soaked in water and add to the pan. 
  8. Add yogurt, water and adjust salt. Combine everything well. 
  9. Place the lid of the pressure cooker and do NOT keep the weight. Keep the flame high until the steam starts escaping with pressure. Then reduce the flame to the lowest and cook. Turn off the flame in 12 minutes. 
  10. Open the lid 10 minutes after turning off and fluff lightly with a fork. This yields a lovely aromatic rice.

Some ideas:

  • Boil and keep ready a couple of eggs while preparing this dish and toss them into the lunch box along with the rice. Instant egg biryani is ready :-)
  • A cup of fresh green peas can be added after the Step 4, a nice way to sneak in some green veggies.
  • A cup of soy chunks (soaked in boiling water for 10 - 15 minutes and the water totally squeezed out) can be added after the step 4, making it a protein rich dish.

Eet-smakelijk! / Bon-Appetit! / Enjoy!