Tomato Pulav -Thakkali satham

All of us love the convenience of a one pot meal for a week day dinner. This is a one pot meal which can be done in no time. My mom used to make tomato masala rice for lunch during our school days. We used to leave out the tomatoes and just eat the rice. To make us eat the tomatoes she used to grind them and use the ground paste to prepare the masala.

This recipe is from my mother in law. She makes a killer tomato Pulav by using tomato puree and coconut. My hubby and my daughter love this dish a lot. This is an easy way to get kids to eat tomatoes. Trust me they will love it.

Preparation Time : 15 min

Cooking Time:20 min

Serves : 2 Adults

Ingredients:

• 5 medium size plum Tomatoes (2 cups puree).
• 2 cups Basmati rice.
• 1 large Onion.
• 1 green Chili.
• 1 tsp Chili powder.
• Salt as needed.
• 2 tbsp Oil/ ghee for tempering

To grind:

• 2 tbsp grated Coconut.
• 1 tsp Fennel seeds.
• 1 Garlic pods.
• 1 inch Ginger piece(optional).
• 4-5 Cashews(optional).

To Temper:

• 1/2 tbsp Fennel seeds(optional)
• 1 Bay leaf.
• 1 Cardamom.
• 2 Cloves.

Method:

• Grind the items in " To grind " list to a fine paste.
• Cook the tomatoes until they turn mushy in water.
• I cooked them in a pressure cooker for 2-3 whistles with 1 cup of water.
• Crush the cooked tomatoes and extract the puree.
• Filter the tomato puree to extract the seeds and skin and keep it aside.
• Soak the Basmati rice for half an hour and drain the water.

• Heat the pressure cooker and add oil/ghee.
• When the oil/ghee is hot add the items "to Temper".
• Add onion and green chili and saute it until the onions turn translucent.
• Add the soaked basmati rice and leave it for 1-2 minute to coat the aroma of the spices.

• Now add the tomato puree,salt,Chili powder and little oil.(so that the rice won't get mushy).
• Add the ground paste to the pressure cooker as well.
• Check for salt, spice and sourness.
• Cook it in medium heat until the rice cooks through. Usually 1 whistle.Switch off the stove and take it out pressure in just 5 minutes.
• Tomato Pulav is ready to be served.

Note:

• If you don't get enough tomato puree you can add some water.
• You can substitute Plum tomatoes with 2 large country tomatoes. But the dish tastes better with plum tomatoes.
• Add the right quantity of liquid to prevent rice from turning mushy.
• Adjust the spice and salt levels according to your taste.

Similar one pot meal Mint pulav

LInking it to 

Vardhinis page and nandoos kitchen