Tomato Bath (Karnataka Style Tomato Pulao)

Tomato Bath – delicious and flavourful tomato-based rice dish. Karnataka style tomato rice bath made with tomato, coconut, herbs and spice based ground masala makes a great weeknight dinner and an ideal option to pack for lunchbox.

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Total Time35

Course: rice

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 306kcal

Author: Geetha

Ingredients

1 Cup = 250ml ; 1 Tablespoon = 15ml ; 1 Teaspoon = 5ml

For Masala Paste

1 Teaspoon Oil
½ inch Cassia (Dalchini)
1 Cardamom
3 Cloves
1 Teaspoon Cumin
1.5 Teaspoon Fennel Seeds
¾ cup (or) 70 gms Onion half of large onion, diced
a pinch Salt
handful (or)around 2-3 sprigs Mint remove leaves from the sprig
handful (or) around 2-3 sprigs Coriander remove leaves from the sprig
2 cups (or) 406 gms Tomatoes 4 medium tomatoes, diced
3 Tablespoons Desiccated Coconut

For Rice

1.5 Tablespoons Oil
1 Bay Leaf
1 Star Anise
1 Teaspoons Cumin
½ Cup (or) 68 gms Onion half of the large onion, sliced
1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
½ Teaspoon Turmeric
2 Teaspoon Chilli Powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
as required Salt
3 Cups Rice
4 Cups Water
handful Fresh Coriander Leaves chopped

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

To make masala paste

In a pan or kadai, heat oil over medium-high heat.
1 Teaspoon Oil
Once oil is hot, add cassia followed by cardamom, cloves, fennel seeds and cumin. Saute for few seconds until aromatic.
1/2 inch Cassia (Dalchini), 3 Cloves, 1 Teaspoon Cumin, 1.5 Teaspoon Fennel Seeds, 1 Cardamom
Now add onion, pinch of salt and saute for couple of minutes.
¾ cup (or) 70 gms Onion, a pinch Salt
Stir in handful coriander, mint.
handful (or)around 2-3 sprigs Mint, handful (or) around 2-3 sprigs Coriander
Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes or until tomatoes start to soften. You need not cook until tomatoes are mushy.
2 cups (or) 406 gms Tomatoes
Turn the heat off and allow the mixture to cool down completely.
Transfer the contents to mixer/blender and grind to a paste. Do not add any water as the moisture from tomatoes are enough to help grinding process.
3 Tablespoons Desiccated Coconut
Take rice in a deep bowl, wash under cold tap water for 3-4 times or until water runs clear. Keep rice bowl aside.
3 Cups Rice

To make Tomato Bath

In a deep skillet or steel pot, heat oil over medium-high heat.
1.5 Tablespoons Oil
Add bay leaf, star anise, cumin and saute for few seconds until aromatic.
1 Bay Leaf, 1 Star Anise, 1 Teaspoons Cumin
Now add onion, ginger-garlic paste and saute for 2-3 minutes or until onion turn soft.
½ Cup (or) 68 gms Onion, 1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
Reduce the heat now and mix in ground masala paste followed by chilli powder, turmeric, coriander powder, salt.
½ Teaspoon Turmeric, 2 Teaspoon Chilli Powder, 1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder, as required Salt
Cook for 5 minutes or until the raw aroma of spices vanish.
Add water, mix well and increase the heat. Bring it to boil.
4 Cups Water
Now add washed rice and coriander leaves mix, gently and cook until 50% of the water is absorbed.
handful Fresh Coriander Leaves
Reduce the heat, close the pot with lid and simmer for 10-12 minutes.
Turn the heat off and let it sit for 5-8 minutes.
Take the lid of the pot and gently mix rice. Ensure not to break rice grains.
Serve piping hot delicious Tomato Rice bath with raita or any side dish of your choice.

Notes

Adjust spices as per your taste preference.

You may swap fresh/frozen coconut for desiccated coconut.

If you do not have any whole spice just skip it. This rice still tastes delicious and flavourful.

If you do not have premade ginger-garlic paste, cook a small piece of ginger and couple of garlic cloves along with tomato and spice mixture and then grind it.

Use fully ripe red tomatoes in this tomato pulao recipe for the best taste.

I wouldn't suggest using canned tomato puree or passata as the fresh tomatoes impart good flavour and yield the best-tasting dish.

Nutrition