Many people love rice, but eating rice that tastes the same every day becomes monotonous. Tomato rice is an easy way to break that monotony. Made with rice, tomatoes and various spices, the dish is not only tasty but also healthy.

Tomato rice aids digestion and is well suited to a change of taste. The powerful antioxidant lycopene in tomatoes is good for the body and in particular helps keep the heart healthy.

Bengali eating habits are gradually leaning towards fusion food. Cooking rice with various spices and ingredients brings new flavours, and tomato rice is one such dish that is easy to cook and delicious to eat.

First heat oil or ghee in a pan. When hot, add bay leaf and cinnamon to temper. When fragrant, add chopped onion, chopped garlic and green chillies and fry until light brown.

When the onion softens, add chopped tomato and cook on medium heat until it breaks down and blends with the spices. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder and garam masala and fry the spices well. When the oil separates, add the washed rice and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes with the spices so the flavour blends into the grains.

Then add hot water as needed and salt to taste. When the water boils, turn the heat right down and cover the pan. As the rice slowly cooks and the water dries up, the grains will become separate and fluffy. When the rice is fully cooked, sprinkle chopped coriander leaves on top, leave it on dum for a few minutes and take it off the heat.

Serve the tomato rice hot with cold raita, salad or fried papad. With its mix of tangy, hot and spicy flavours, it brings a different taste to lunch or dinner.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.