Tomato Rice

Another one of my favourite rice dishes. You will love this if you love your tomatoes and it's easy to make too.

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: Basmati Rice (1.5 cups, uncooked), Tomatoes (medium, 5-6), Onion (large - 1), Serrano peppers (2), Cilantro (for garnish), turmeric ( a couple of pinches), salt (to taste), Coriander powder (2 tsp), cashews (20 halves)

Ingredients for tempering: Extra virgin olive oil or canola oil (3 tsp), dried red chilli (2-3), mustard seeds (3tsp), cumin seeds (2 tsp), chana dhal (yellow lentils) 2 tsp, black gram dhal (2 tsp), cinnamon stick (1/2), cloves (whole - 2 -3)

Cook away...

> Cook the Basmati rice per instructions on the package

> Heat a pan on medium high heat on a saucepan and add oil

> Add all the ingredients for tempering and cook until the mustard seeds start to splutter

> Slice the onions into long thin slices, dice the tomatoes into 1/2 inch pieces, slice the serrano peppers

> Add onions and peppers and saute until the onions start to turn golden brown

> Add turmeric and add the tomatoes and cover with a lid and cook for 5-6 minutes till the tomatoes are cooked

> Add salt and coriander powder and saute for a minute

> Add the cooked rice to the tomato and onion mixture and combine thoroughly  and transfer to the serving bowl

> Roast the cashews in a little bit or oil or butter and garish

> Chop cilantro and garnish

> Serve hot with some yogurt chutney on the side (maybe some potato chips too!)

My Thoughts...

> Cut back on the serrano peppers and/or the dried red chilli to reduce spice level

> If you want to add some protein to this dish, cook some soy granules along with the onion and tomatoes and combine with the rice

> I sometimes do 50:50 of white basmati rice and brown basmati rice for this dish