TOMATO RICE | TOMATO BIRYANI

**Author - Alee Venkatesh **










Tomato Biryani (recipe below)



TOMATOES world's healthiest food, are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content.  Intake of tomatoes has long been linked to heart health and fresh tomatoes and tomato extracts have been shown to help lower total cholesterol.  Tomatoes are a treasure of riches when it comes to their antioxidant benefits. In terms of conventional antioxidants, tomatoes provide an excellent amount of vitamin C; a very good amount of the mineral manganese; and a good amount of vitamin E. 



South Indian Tomato-bath 


Tomato Rice

This is a garlic & coconut free recipe ("Thanks to my friend Roopa Srinivas for sharing this recipe")

When it was prepared in my kitchen, I used the following:-

Ingredients for Grinding:
  • 1 bunch mint leaves (1/2 fried+ 1/2 fresh leaves)
  • 1 raw onion
  • 2 fresh tomatoes
  • green chillies to taste
  • ginger piece - small
  • 1/4 cup warmed coriander seeds
  • Raw cinnamon stick 1"
  • Raw cloves - 1/2 tsp.
Ingredients for Seasoning:
  • Little bit of oil and ghee
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
  • 1 bay leave
Other EXTRA ingredients:
  • 2-3 cups cooked rice
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tomatoes + 1 onion
Method:
  • In a pan, heat oil and ghee (clarified butter)
  • Season with mustard seeds, cinnamon stick & bay leave
  • Fry onions & tomatoes - fried until tender & transparent
  • add salt and grinded mixture, keep cooking on medium flame until the mixture becomes thick and water is vaporized (as shown in the picture)
  • add cooked rice, mix well to combine,  serve


Tomato Biryani

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups cooked rice, 
  • 5 tomatoes+1 onion cooked together and pureed, 
  • salt to taste, 
  • 1 sp each of cooking oil+ butter, 
  • few spoons of dry methi leaves, (not used in the above Tomato Bath)
  • sliced tomatoes for garnishing (optional)
  • chopped coriander leaves and spring onions for garnishing (optional), 

For Masala:
  • 1 tsp. cumin seeds, (not used in the above Tomato Bath)
  • 1 bay leaf, 4 cloves, 
  • 1” cinnamon stick, 
  • 2 cardamom, (not used in the above Tomato Bath)
  • ½ tsp. of ginger-garlic paste, (garlic not used in the above Tomato Bath)
  • Few tsps. of coconut (not used in the above Tomato Bath)
  • 1 tsp. red chilli powder, (not used in the above Tomato Bath)
  • 4 green chilies, 
  • ½ tsp. roasted cumin powder & coriander powder. (not used in the above Tomato Bath, instead just used warmed coriander seeds)
Method:
  • Cook rice and keep it aside.  
  • Cut onion and tomatoes into big chunks and cook until tender.  
  • When this is cool, blend into a smooth paste with other spice ingredients.  
  • Heat oil & butter in a pan and pour this blended mixture and simmer until sauce thickens.  
  • Add this sauce mixture to your cooked rice, 
  • add salt to taste and garnish with dry methi, coriander and spring onions.  
  • Serve hot with cucumber and onion raita.