How to make Spicy Tomato Pulao | Thakkali Pulao | Pulao Recipes | Lunch Box Recipes

Tomato Pulao or Tomato Pulav or Tomato pilaf is a easy and tasty recipe, which can be prepared in 15min time (except the soaking time of rice). When I am in a hurry to pack the lunch for the kids, hubby and for me, I usually go for this Tomato pulao once in a week. Each time, I feel it was better than the next time and my kids too love this very much. This version is a bit spicy version. So people who does not eat spicy food, can reduce the amount for green chillies or chilli powder.

So lets see how to make the Spicy Tomato Pulao or Spicy Tamatar Pulao: 

How to make Spicy Tomato Pulao

Soaking Time: 20 min | Preparation time: 10 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Serves: 5
Recipe Category: Main Course | Recipe Cuisine: South Indian

Ingredients

• Basmathi Rice - 3 cups
• Water - 4 cups
• Tomato - 4 (medium sized)
• Onion - 2
• Ghee - 2 tsp
• Oil - 2 tsp
• Cloves - 6
• Star Anise - 3
• Bay leaves - 2
• Cinnamon stick - 1
• Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup
• Green chillies - 3
• Fennel Seeds - 1/4 tsp
• Chilli powder - 2 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp (optional)
• Salt - as per taste

Method

1. Soak the rice for 30 min. Meanwhile, start doing the preparations steps.
2. Grind 4 tomatoes in a food processor and make a tomato sauce and keep aside.

3. In a pressure cooker, add oil and when it is hot add cloves, star anise, bay leaves, cinnamon stick and fry for a min. Add onion and fry again till it becomes tender. Add salt at this stage.
4. Add the ginger garlic paste and coriander leaves and saute well. Add the tomato sauce/paste now. Also add chopped tomato (the 4th one - into small pieces) and saute well.
5. When the raw smell goes off from tomato and ginger garlic, add the chilli powder, and turmeric powder. Add the water and allow to boil. Add the rice when the water starts boiling. Check for the seasoning. Give a stir and close the pressure cooker lid and add weight. Keep the flame low.
6. After 10 min, switch off the stove. When the pressure decreases, remove the weight from the lid and add ghee to the pulao and give a stir without breaking the rice.
7. Serve hot with mild side dish (as the pulao is spicy) like Raita and vadam. It had had with Mango Lassi. 

A final look on the yummy Thakkali pulao

This goes to my event Dish Name Starts with T

Notes: 
1. If you want mild spiciness, reduce the chilli powder amout or green chillies.
2. Normally Basmati rice and water would be added in the ratio of 1:1.5, but here I reduced the quantity event less, as we grind the tomato into puree and add it.
3. After adding the ghee, give a stir and again close it for a 5 min time, So that the hot steam inside the cooker, makes it to cook finely.

Strawberry Lassi | Summer Special Drinks

Strawberry Lassi is always one of my favorite Lassi other than Mango Lassi. Lassi is a popular and traditional yogurt-based drink which originates in the Punjab region. The yogurt sweetened with honey is used while performing religious rituals.  Lassis are enjoyed chilled as a hot-weather refreshment, mostly taken with lunch. With a little turmeric powder mixed in, it is also used as a folk remedy for gastroenteritis. Strawberry fruit is very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. It is also a good source of folate and potassium, and a very good source of dietary fiber, and manganese. One serving of about eight strawberries provides more vitamin C than an orange. The strawberry is among the top 20 fruits in antioxidant capacity.(Information is taken from Wiki).

So lets see the simple and healthy strawberry lassi recipe... I already posted a strawberry lassi during my early days of blogging and as I do not like the clicks, I repost again.

Ingredients

• Strawberry - 1 cup (250 gms)
• Yogurt/Curd - 2 cups
• Water - 1 cup
• Milk - 1/2 cup
• Sugar/Honey - 1/2 cup
• Ice cubes - as required

Method
Chop the strawberries into half. Add the strawberries, yogurt, water, milk and sugar into the blender or mixie/food processor and blend to a smooth texture. Filter the sediments and pour into serving glass and serve with the ice cubes.

Note:
Since I added water and milk, my Lassi was bit watery. So you can avoid the water and try.
Adjust sugar according to the sweetness of strawberry.

Delicious Strawberry Lassi is ready.. Plz try and let me know how you like it...