Tomato Rice/Thakkali Pongal

Tomato Rice/Thakkali Pongal

Ask any sourashtrian their favorite food. Thakkali Pongal, as it is called will top the poll.  It is such a simple flavorful meal accompanied by simple raita or kurma.  

Ingredients:

Jeera Samba Rice- 2 cups

Oil- 6 tbsp

Ghee-1 tsp

Tomato- 5 to 6 medium size

Onion- 1

Mint and coriander- a handful

Ginger garlic paste- 1 tbsp

Green Chillies- 4

Red Chilly Powder- 1 tbsp or more to suit the taste

Whole spices- 5 cloves ,1 cardamom pod, 1 tsp of fennel seeds, 1" cinnamon stick

salt- to taste

Heat Oil and ghee in a pressure pan, add whole spices, then saute onion till translucent followed by ginger garlic green chilies, mint and then add finely chopped tomatoes( pulse it if you cannot chop very fine), salt and chilli powder. Saute till the oil separates. Check the taste. Add water 1:2. Make sure you account the onion tomato gravy in this measurement. Let it come to a rolling boil. Add rice to it. ( I soak the rice for 15 mts and drain).  Let it come to a boil. Close the pressure cooker with the weight on and put the stove on the lowest heat setting so that the pressure created inside is not let out for 15 mts. 

Let the pressure drop on its own, garnish it with coriander leaves.