Tiffin Boxes are an integral part of any Indian Household. Its become a booming industry in itself. ‘What should I prepare today?’, is a constant question that one asks herself/himself (well, I believe in gender equality :p). I have been asking this question for the past 25 years and the journey of this daunting question has been continuing. Here are a couple of combinations of quick yet filling recipes, that should aid you in getting back to the old responses of “Oh inikum idhu dhaana!” (Oh the same thing yet again!).
Tomato Rice
The easiest, quickest and……
Ingredients
Raw Rice— 1 cup
Ripe tomato— 3
Onion— 1
Green Chili— 2
Channa dal— 1 tsp
Coriander seeds— 1 tsp
Whole pepper— ½ tsp
Mustard seeds— ½ tsp
Coves— 3
Cinnamon— ½ inch
Turmeric powder— ¼ tsp
Red chili powder— ½ tsp
Salt— 1 tsp
Oil— 3 tbsp
Few curry leaves.
Method
Cook rice with 1 tbsp oil and ½ tsp salt. Spread the cooked rice in a plate and cool it. Cut the onion into small pieces. Slit the green chilies. Bend the tomatoes. Take a pan and dry roast channa dal, coriander seeds and pepper. Remove from pan, cool it and powder them coarsely. Heat the remaining oil in a pan. Add the mustard seed when they start to splutter add the coves and cinnamon,saute. Add the curry leaves, green chilies and copped onion, saute until the onion turn translucent. Add the tomato pulp. Add turmeric powder, red chili powder and remaining salt( I added ½ tsp sugar to balance the taste). Mix it and cook it for about 3-4 minutes. Now add the grounded powder ,mix well and keep cooking till you get a thick pulp. Add the cooked rice and mix well gently. Tomato rice is ready.
Options
1.Ready made tomato paste can be substituted for fresh tomatoes. Use 3 tbsp tomato paste and ½ glass of water.
2.You can prepare the dish without onion.
3.If you are using the tomato paste and not using onion ,you could prepare the paste and store it in fridge , this saves time .
4.Millet, vermicelli or rice -vermicelli can be substituted for rice.
Sujatas Recipes 
Nice post
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