Tomato Bath (Tomato Rice) - Preparation Details

Tomato Bath, also called Tomato Rice, is a flavorful South Indian rice dish where cooked rice is tossed with a tangy, mildly spiced tomato masala. The juicy ripened tomatoes give the rice a bright red color and refreshing taste, making it a perfect lunchbox or quick meal option. It pairs beautifully with papad, curd, or any simple vegetable stir-fry.

Ingredients

Ingredient	Quantity
Rice (preferably sona masoori or ponni)	1 cup
Water	2 cups (for cooking rice)
Ripe tomatoes	3–4 medium (finely chopped)
Onion	1 medium (thinly sliced)
Green chilies	2 (slit lengthwise)
Ginger-garlic paste	1 tsp
Oil	2 tbsp
Ghee (optional)	1 tsp
Mustard seeds	½ tsp
Cumin seeds	½ tsp
Curry leaves	6–8
Turmeric powder	¼ tsp
Red chili powder	1 tsp (adjust to taste)
Coriander powder	1 tsp
Garam masala	½ tsp
Salt	To taste
Fresh coriander leaves	2 tbsp (chopped)

Preparation Steps

Cook the rice

Wash the rice well and cook it with 2 cups of water until fluffy.

Spread it on a plate to cool slightly so the grains don’t stick.

Prepare the tomato base

Heat oil (and ghee, if using) in a pan.

Add mustard seeds; when they splutter, add cumin seeds.

Add curry leaves, sliced onions, and green chilies. Sauté until onions turn light golden.

Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell disappears.

Cook the tomatoes

Add chopped tomatoes and turmeric powder. Cook until tomatoes turn soft and mushy.

Add red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt.

Mix well and cook until oil separates from the masala.

Combine rice and masala

Add the cooked rice to the tomato masala.

Gently mix without breaking the rice grains, so the masala coats evenly.

Garnish and serve

Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves.

Serve hot with papad, raita, or plain curd.

Tomato Bath is quick to prepare, easy to pack for lunch, and works perfectly as a one-pot meal. Its balance of tangy, spicy, and aromatic flavors makes it a family favorite, especially on busy days. With just a few pantry ingredients, you can enjoy a wholesome, satisfying dish that is as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat.