Tomato Bath recipe: Karnataka Style

Tomato bath reminds me of my mother-in-law. As told umpteen times before, she is a very good cook. She is the one who taught me to prepare this & not only this, many many more recipes.

So, here's the recipe of tomato bath.

Ingredients:
2 cups rice (use medium grain rice like sona masoori/ponni rice)
3 ripened tomatoes (chopped)
1-2 onions (chopped)
a fistful of green peas (optional)
1 tsp red chili powder

1 tbsp MTR or any other pulao masala

1 tbsp butter

1 tbsp oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 tsp jeera

4-6 curry leaves

cliantro/coriander leaves for garnishing.

4 cups of hot water

salt according to taste.

For spice paste:

1 inch cinnamon
2 cloves
1 green chilli
1 red chilli
1 pod garlic, optional
1 tsp grated ginger
1/2 cup grated coconut (fresh/frozen)
a few strands of mint/pudina (optional)

Preparation:

Grind the coconut, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, clove, red chilli, green chili, mint leaves using little water & create a paste of it.

Soak the rice for 10 mins.

Meantimes. add butter, oil in a pan. When oil, butter is hot, add mustard seeds, jeera.

When mustard seeds splutter, add curry leaves, onion & saute for a minute

Add the paste & saute in oil until the raw smell disappears & oil separates from the mixture.

Now add tomatoes, green peas & fry in oil until tomatoes become little soft.

Drain water from the rice. Add drained rice to it and mix it well.

To this, add chili powder, pulao masala, salt and 4 cups of hot water

Close the lid of pan and pressure cook it for 1 whistle

Garnish it with coriander leaves, gently mix and serve it hot with raitha of your choice