Tomato rice is a popular South Indian dish that makes a quick one-dish meal. It pairs well with a vegetable salad or other side dish and can be served as an appetizer with poppadoms (a crisp disc-shaped chip commonly found in India).
This recipe uses fresh tomatoes for extra flavor and is easy to make. It also requires just a handful of ingredients that can be found in your local grocery store or health food shop.
Start by melting bacon grease in a medium-sized pot over high heat. This adds a smokey, savory element to the dish that goes perfectly with the tomatoes and roasted okra.
Next, saute the onions until they are tender and translucent. Once the onions are soft, stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then, add the tomato, salt, and pepper and simmer on low heat until the rice absorbs the liquid, about 20 minutes.
After the liquid is absorbed, add the drained rice and turn the heat low. Cover the pot, and let it gently simmer until the rice is cooked, about 15 minutes more.
When the rice is done, please remove it from the heat and let it sit undisturbed for a few minutes. This will distribute the liquid evenly throughout the rice and give it a fluffy texture. Fluff it with a fork, and tomato rice is ready to serve.
The key to making a perfect batch of tomato rice is to ensure the rice is soaked thoroughly before cooking it and to use a big pot to hold all the liquid you add. This will ensure the rice cooks properly without being too dry or overcooked.
To make this dish, you can use a stovetop pressure cooker, an Instant pot, or an electric rice cooker. Remember to soak the rice for at least 25 minutes before adding it to your pressure cooker. You should also soak chana and urad dal for at least 10 minutes before using them in the recipe, as they will cook faster when they’re soaked.
A note on tomatoes: They can scorch easily, so keep a close eye on your rice while it cooks to prevent accidents. You can also reduce the number of tomatoes you add to avoid this problem.
Another important step is to stir the rice regularly, allowing it to absorb the spice flavors from the oil and the tomatoes. When the rice absorbs the liquid, it’ll appear like a thick sauce. If you’re a fan of spicy foods, you can add a few crushed chilies to the mixture while it’s cooking.
For an added smokiness touch, you can add liquid smoke or smoked salt to the pot before the final step. These options add a hint of smokiness to the dish that’s perfect with the sweetness of the tomatoes and the salty, savory flavor of the bacon.