Tomato Rice Recipe Healthy Gluten Free Indian

Boasting of the richness of ripe tomatoes and aromatic Indian spices, fresh coriander leaves, this Tomato Rice recipe is a wholesome meal when teamed with a curry of your choice.
While you may make the tomato rice from scratch, this Tomato Rice Recipe is made by tempering left over boiled rice with onion and tomato cooked slowly in ghee. Warm and comfortable simple meal that gathers in just 10 minutes if you have boiled rice ahead of time. Find more delicious rice recipes from the blog: Healthy Brown Rice Pulao, Vegetable Rice Recipe, Pumpkin Rice with Coconut Milk, and Jeera Rice.

Why Would You Love This Recipe?

Gluten Free Easy Recipe Flavorful healthy rice made in ghee. Perfect Light Lunch or Dinner. Kids Friendly Can be made ahead of time. Can be made vegan with simple swaps. Scalable Recipe The Best Tomato Rice Recipe ever!

Ingredients

Boiled Rice: I have tempered pre-boiled rice with tomato. Any good quality Basmati rice works well. Tomato: Ripe and juicy tomatoes work great. If you want more tomato flavor, you may add more tomatoes than mentioned in the recipe card. Onion: Onions add mild sweet flavor to the rice and balance the tanginess that comes from tomatoes. Ghee: I always make rice in ghee. You may use vegan oils to make this recipe vegan. Indian Spices: Whole spices used are bayleaf, clove, black pepper and cumin. Other spices include red chilly powder, raw mango powder and turmeric powder. Salt: Normal salt works well.

Variations

Instant Pot Tomato Rice: For making Instant Pot tomato rice, saute tomato, onion and spices in ghee,then add raw soaked rice with water and salt. Pressure cook for 10 minutes, and enjoy flavorful Tomato Rice in no time. The similar recipe is followed for making tomato rice from scratch in pressure cooker. The cooking time varies, however. Pressure cook only for 3-4 min if making rice in pressure cooker. Add Another Ingredient: You may add more color to this rice by adding other vegetables like peas, paneer, broccoli, etc. Add another spice: Add Garam masala or any other spice.

Expert Tips

Use a heavy bottomed wok or else the rice would stick to the bottom of the utensil. (Boiled rice are more starchy and sticky when tempered than the raw rice. Make sure that you don’t use very old boiled rice. Just a night before is fine (if refrigerated) as rice can have bacterial growth sooner than we know.

Storage Suggestions

For the leftover rice, let them cool down to room temperature before storing. Place it in an airtight container to prevent moisture and odors from affecting the flavor. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking. Consume refrigerated tomato rice within 1 to 2 days to maintain its taste and texture. If you are using already boiled rice from previous day, consume within 20 hours. When reheating, add a splash of water or broth to the rice to prevent it from drying out. You can use a microwave or stovetop for gentle reheating. I won’t recommend freezing the rice.

What To Team This Tomato Rice With?

Serve alongside lentil curries (dals) or vegetable curries for a complete and wholesome meal. Try our recipes- Healthy Palak Paneer, Chana Dal Palak or Paneer Tikka. Add a side of grilled or roasted vegetables, such as spiced cauliflower or tandoori-style bell peppers, for added texture and nutrients. Try Roasted Pumpkin Spinach Salad. Balance the flavors with a cooling yogurt raita, a side dish made with yogurt, cucumbers, and spices- Bathua Raita and Beet Raita. Pair with tangy and spicy Indian chutneys or pickles to add zing and depth to your meal-Cilantro Dip, Tomato Chutney For Dosa. Complement the rice with crispy fritters like onion fritters or bhajis or spinach pakoras for a delightful combination of textures. Create a refreshing contrast by serving a fresh salad on the side, with greens, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Get our collection of Veg Salads For Weight Loss.

Detailed Recipe With Steps

Step 1 Wash, Chop, temper

Wash and chop onion and tomato as desired. In a wok, heat ghee over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and Heeng (Asafoetida) . Once they splutter, add finely chopped onions and sauté until they turn translucent. Add spices, salt and tomato. Cook the tomatoes until they soften and release their juices, creating a rich tomato base.

Step 2 Add Boiled Rice

Add the pre-boiled rice to the pan. Gently mix to combine the rice with the tomato mixture. Ensure that the rice grains are evenly coated with the tomato flavors.

Step 3 Serve It

Remove from heat. Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves. Cover the pan and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Serve your delicious tomato rice with curd or curry of your choice.