Garden Update - It's raining tomatoes! Simple Tomato Rice

I had never had tomatoes ripen this early in the summer. These are the slightly sour kind which makes for a tasty tomato rice.

I picked up too many than my refrigerator can handle before rot sets in. They were made into tomato pickle which is loved by one all around here.

Vegetable Flowers

Yardlong Beans

Brinjal flower

Female Squash flower

Female Squash flower

Male Squash Flower - notice the stamen

Chilies

growing down!

growing up!

Tomato Rice
This is the simplest and the most easiest tomato rice you can make. I have the Indian variety tomatoes which are perfect in this recipe. If you do not have sour ones add a bit of tamarind and that should take care of it.

Simple Tomato Rice
Ingredients
1. 8 tomatoes chopped (about 2 cups)
2. 1/2 Cup Sliced Red Onions
3. 6 green chilies slit
4. 1/2 tbsp grated ginger
5. 1/2 cup mint leaves or coriander leaves (optional)
6. seasoning - cumin, mustard and curry leaves
7. 2 cups rice (I used parboiled ponni rice)
8. 1 tsp of oil + salt to taste
9. 1 tsp turmeric powder (optional)
10. 2 tbsp tamarind pulp (optional for sourness if tomatoes are sweet)

To Powder
1. 2 tsp coriander seeds
2. 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
3. 1 red chili
4. 1/2 tsp urad dal

Roast the above and powder. (this is purely optional)

Method
Soak the rice for 1/2 - 1 hour before starting to cook
1. In a pressure cooker heat a tsp of oil and add the seasonings when the mustard starts to pop add the green chilies and onions and saute the onion till they turn brown
2. Add the ginger and mint leaves and saute till the leaves wilt
3.Add the turmeric powder if using and tomatoes, let the tomatoes cook till they turn mushy
4. Now add the rice and mix it well with the tomatoes. Add the spice powder and mix it into the rice
5. Add the required amount of water and let it come to a boil. Cook the rice almost half way through
6. Close the lid, put the weight and cook for 8 minutes more and turn of the heat
7. Let cool and mix it gently

Serve with any raita of choice