Tomato Rice - Thakkali Choru

I used to enjoy eating freshly diced tomatoes mixed with sugar as a snack long time back. Having never seen or eaten Tomato Rice I didn't think that one day I'll use those plum red tomatoes this way. But food blogs can do that to you. Encountering the thousands of possible Indian recipes that is being cooked in homes across the globe everyday you just can't bring yourself to eat that plain old rice without giving it a spin:-) I tried many variations and this is the one that was enjoyed the most and so made often. Having no idea as to how it should taste our household is blindly content with the current version. Very good for leftover rice and a wonderful way to use all those tomatoes kind friends or colleagues bring you from their garden.

In the Mix

cooked basmati rice - 3 cups
cloves - 4
cardamom - 4 to 5
cinnammon - 1 large piece broken into many
big red onion - 1/2 chopped (the big red onion is very flavorful and has completely replaced the regular yellow onions in my home)
green chillies - 2 or 3
ginger - 1" piece
garlic - 3-4 pods
tomatoes - 4 or 5 chopped very small
curry leaves - a sprig or two
kashmiri chili powder - 1 tsp
turmeric - a pinch
chili powder - 1/4 tsp
oil - 2-3 tsp
salt to taste
water - 1 tbsp
Mint leaves

How To:

Cook the rice the usual way or use leftovers.

Heat oil in a pan. Crush cardamom, cloves and cinnammon slightly with a pestle. This is not a must but it brings out the masala flavor I think. Add this to the heated oil and saute for a short while. Add chopped onions and salt - include enough salt for rice too here-and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the curry leaves. Chop green chilies, ginger and garlic together in a chopper and add to the mix. Saute these on low heat. I find that chopping them together somehow feels better! These can be added after just slicing them too if you are not up to chopper washing:-)

Mix for a while till nicely blended. Now add the tomatoes. Keep on stirring and add the chili and turmeric powders. Add the water if needed to mix it all well. Continue till the mix looks sauteed well and not so watery. the mix is ready now and can be removed to a bowl.

Put the rice into the pan that made the tomato mix and stir in low heat. Add the mix and stir all together for 1-2 minutes. Add the washed mint leaves as is or chopped and spread on top of the tomato rice. Cover to let the mint flavor soak in and turn of the heat. Now all it needs is a few servings of yogurt and the meal is complete! Don't forget to check the salt after adding rice and add more as needed. I find that it goes very well with any veggies or meat dishes you have at the moment.