Lunch box favourite · One pot
Tomato Rice Recipe (South Indian Tomato Bath)
Thick masala. Curry leaves. Separate grains.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenTomato rice is rice tossed in a thick, tangy tomato masala with a South Indian tempering. It turns mushy and sour when the masala is wet or the rice is overcooked. The fix is cooking the tomato masala until thick and oily, and using rice cooked just right.
The 3 laws of tomato rice
Why this recipe works
Watery tomatoes
Keeps rice separate.
Plain oil
Mustard and curry leaves define it.
Soft rice
Mushy rice breaks.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Rice
The NineFoods masala gauge
Is the tomato masala ready?
Look at the masala before adding rice.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Tempering
- Crackle mustard, then urad dal, chana dal, chillies and curry leaves.
Tomato masala
- Add onion, ginger garlic, tomatoes and spices.
- Use the gauge above.
Toss rice
- Fold in cooled rice gently.
- Garnish with coriander.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Wet masala or soft rice.
Fix next time
Cook masala thick and use firm, cooled rice.
Why
Acidic tomatoes.
Fix next time
Add a pinch of sugar.
Why
Under-salted.
Fix next time
Season the masala well before adding rice.
Why
Not fried.
Fix next time
Fry dals in the tempering until golden.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Leftover rice | Quick method | Freshly cooked, cooled rice |
| Curry leaves | Aroma | Skip, but flavour drops |
| Sona masuri | South Indian | Basmati |
| Tomatoes | Base | Canned tomatoes |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Raita, papad or potato fry.
Store
Fridge 2 days; it travels well in lunch boxes at room temperature for a few hours.
Reheat
Toss in a hot pan with a teaspoon of oil.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the tomato masala ready) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Tomato Rice FAQ
Can I use leftover rice?
Yes, it works best when the rice is cold and firm.
What is tomato bath?
The Karnataka name for tomato rice.
Why is my tomato rice mushy?
The masala was wet or the rice was soft.
Is tomato rice good for lunch boxes?
Yes, it travels well.