tomato bath recipe with step by step photos. karnataka style tomato rice is also called as tomato bath. this is a delicious, tangy and spiced rice based dish. i learned this tomato rice bath recipe in my home science cooking classes and i still have the notes with me in my journal. i used to make this pretty often. the texture of rice in tomato bath is not separate like a pulao, but moist and slightly mushy.
to make this tomato rice bath, tomatoes and fresh coconut are ground with some spices and herbs to a fine paste. addition of coconut makes this rice based dish very flavorful.
the tanginess or sourness of the tomatoes is balanced by the addition of fresh coconut. you can even use desiccated coconut instead of fresh coconut. the addition of freshly ground spices, tomatoes and coconut give a really amazing taste to the rice. sometimes i even add capsicum in the recipe.
the tomato bath recipe is easy and is a one pot recipe. you can either make the entire recipe in a pot or in a pressure cooker. you can use basmati or sona masuri rice or any type of short grained rice to make tomato bath.
tomato bath can be served plain or with a side accompaniment of raita or salad or pickle.
if you are looking for more tomato recipes then do check:
tomato bath recipe
ingredients (1 cup = 250 ml)
for making tomato+coconut masala paste
- 4 medium sized tomatoes, 300 grams or 2 cups roughly chopped tomatoes
- 5 to 6 medium sized garlic cloves, roughly chopped or 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
- 1 inch ginger , roughly chopped (adrak) or 2 teaspoons chopped ginger
- 2 to 3 green chilies, roughly chopped or 2.5 to 3 teaspoons chopped green chilies
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera) or ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- 3 cloves (lavang)
- 1 inch cinnamon (dalchini)
- ¼ cup fresh coconut or desiccated coconut powder
for soaking rice
- 1 cup rice
- water as required, for soaking rice
other ingredients for tomato bath
- 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 medium sized tej patta or 2 small tej patta
- 1 medium sized onion, thinly sliced or ½ cup sliced onion
- 1 small to medium capsicum, sliced - optional
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
- salt add as required
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- ½ cup water or add as required
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves for garnishing
- fresh coconut for garnishing - optional
how to make tomato bath recipe
soaking rice for tomato bath
rinse 1 cup rice very well in water a couple of times. then soak rice in enough water for 30 minutes.
after 30 minutes drain all the water and keep the rice aside. you can use sona masuri rice, basmati rice or any short grained variety of rice. i have used hand pounded sona masuri rice.
making masala paste for tomato bath
rinse and roughly chop 4 medium tomatoes (300 grams) and add them in a grinder jar. you will need 2 cups roughly chopped tomatoes.
add 1 inch ginger (chopped), 5 to 6 medium sized garlic (chopped), 2 to 3 green chilies (chopped), ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (or ½ teaspoon cumin powder), 3 cloves and 1 inch cinnamon.
next add ¼ cup grated coconut or desiccated coconut powder.
without adding any water grind everything to a fine smooth paste. the juices from the tomato will help in grinding the paste. so no need to add water while grinding.
now measure the tomato coconut masala paste in a measuring cup. depending on the water content in the tomatoes, the quantity may vary.
you need to use the proportion of 1:2 for white rice and the masala paste+water respectively. if using 1 cup of white rice, you will actually need 2 cups of the masala paste.
i got 1.5 cups of tomato coconut masala paste - so added ½ cup water later in the pan.
- for 1.5 cups of tomato paste, add 0.5 cups water.
- for 1.25 cups, add 0.75 cups water.
- for 1 cup of tomato paste, add 1 cup water.
making tomato bath
in a heavy thick bottomed pan or pot heat 2 tablespoons ghee or oil.
keep the flame to a low and add 2 small tej patta or 1 medium tej patta and ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. stir well. let the cumin seeds crackle.
then add 1 medium onion, thinly sliced or ½ cup thinly sliced onions.
stirring often sauté the onions till they become golden. sauté onions on a medium-low to medium flame. if using capsicum, then you can add after the onions have become golden and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
then add the rice. sprinkle ¼ tsp turmeric powder and ¼ tsp red chili powder. mix everything.
now add the measured tomato coconut masala paste. stir and gently mix everything.
add water as required and depending on the quantity of masala paste. i added ½ cup water first and later added ½ cup water more as i was using hand pounded sona masuri rice which takes more water to cook.
season with salt as per taste. add ¼ teaspoon sugar.
mix well. check the taste and it should be slightly salty.
cooking tomato bath
cover the pan with its lid and simmer tomato bath on a low flame.
simmer tomato bath till the rice grains are cooked and fluffy. do check at intervals and if the rice starts sticking to the pan or water dries up or rice mixture looks dry, then you can add some more water.
- once the rice grains are completely cooked, then switch off the flame. fluff the tomato bath with a fork.
serve tomato bath with any raita, pickle or salad of your choice. while serving garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and some grated coconut (optional)
recipe notes
tips for making tomato rice bath
- use the same measuring cup that you have used to measure the rice.
- you can also pressure cook the rice. if pressure cooking, then add less water or add water ass required. also use a heavy cooker so that the rice does not stick or get burnt at the bottom.
- when the rice is cooking keep an eye on it by checking it with a fork so as to ensure that the rice does not stick to the bottom of the pan. add more water if the water dries up and the rice mixture looks dry.
- to add more spice increase the quantity of green chillies.
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how to make tomato bath recipe
a) soaking rice:
1. rinse 1 cup rice very well in water a couple of times. then soak rice in enough water for 30 minutes. after 30 minutes drain all the water and keep the rice aside. you can use sona masuri rice, basmati rice or any short grained variety of rice. i have used hand pounded sona masuri rice.
b) making tomato coconut masala paste
2. rinse and roughly chop 4 medium tomatoes (300 grams) and add them in a grinder jar. you will need 2 cups roughly chopped tomatoes.
3. add 1 inch ginger (chopped), 5 to 6 medium sized garlic (chopped), 2 to 3 green chilies (chopped), ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (or ½ teaspoon cumin powder), 3 cloves and 1 inch cinnamon.
4. next add ¼ cup grated coconut or desiccated coconut powder.
5. without adding any water grind everything to a fine smooth paste. the juices from the tomato will help in grinding the paste. so no need to add water while grinding.
6. now measure the tomato coconut masala paste in a measuring cup. depending on the water content in the tomatoes, the quantity may vary. you need to use the proportion of 1:2 for white rice and the masala paste + water. if using 1 cup of white rice, you will need ideally 2 cups of the masala paste. but the quantity depends on the juiciness and water content of the tomatoes.
i got 1.5 cups of tomato coconut masala paste – so added ½ cup water later in the pan.
- for 1.5 cups of tomato paste, add 0.5 cups water.
- for 1.25 cups, add 0.75 cups water.
- for 1 cup, add 1 cup water.
making tomato bath
7. in a heavy thick bottomed pan or pot heat 2 tablespoons ghee or oil.
8. keep the flame to a low and add 2 small tej patta or 1 tej patta and ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. stir well. let the cumin seeds crackle.
9. then add 1 medium onion, thinly sliced or ½ cup thinly sliced onions.
10. stirring often sauté the onions till they become golden. sauté onions on a medium-low to medium flame. if using capsicum, then you can add after the onions have become golden and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.
11. add the rice.
12. sprinkle ¼ tsp turmeric powder and ¼ tsp red chili powder.
13. mix everything.
14. now add the measured tomato coconut masala paste.
15. stir and gently mix everything.
16. add water as required and depending on the quantity of masala paste. i added ½ cup water first and later added ½ cup water more as i was using hand pounded sona masuri rice which takes more water to cook.
17. season with salt as per taste.
18. add ¼ teaspoon sugar.
19. mix well. check the taste and it should be slightly salty.
cooking tomato bath
20. cover the pan with its lid and simmer tomato bath on a low flame.
21. simmer tomato bath till the rice grains are cooked and fluffy. do check at intervals and if the rice starts sticking to the pan or water dries up or rice mixture looks dry, then you can add some more water.
22. once the rice grains are completely cooked, then switch off the flame. fluff the tomato bath with a fork.
23. serve tomato bath with any raita, pickle or salad of your choice. while serving tomato rice bath garnish with some chopped coriander leaves and some grated coconut (optional)
I tried the recipe unfortunately it dint came out well. There was too strong essence of coconut. Can you please advise where I screwed up 🙁
Shoheb, this tomato rice has the flavors of coconut. but next time you can use less coconut.
I love it Thank u so much, now this
is my hubby favorite food
thank kiran for sharing this. nice to know. happy cooking.
Hi, i hv juzt tried this recipe. Nymannnn~~~ which means delicious. Hehehe.. i love the rich flavour to the rice.. coconut.. tomatoes.. cumin.. gee..definetly i will cook this again!!! It’s great to eat it by itself or u can eat it with ur other dish.. thanks for the recipe. My family loved it!
surely cook 🙂 and thankyou for trying naan and glad you family loved them.
Hi,
My MIL came home.Made loads of chicken n fish. So not cooking these days. But as u said, my fridge is loaded with tomatoes. So thought of making this yummy recipe. Only concern is i hope the combo of chicken/fish with this tomato rice goes well without affecting our digestive system. Any clue??
Thanks,
Teena
tomatoes won’t affect the chicken and fish dishes. in many indian recipes, tomatoes are added in the chicken and fish gravy.
Thank you so much. This is the closest to how my mother cooks tomato bhat! Most other recipes on the internet use chopped tomatoes which is not how tomato bhat is made in our home. Tomato is ground into a smooth paste with freshly scraped coconut and other spices. However one difference with your recipe is, we add red chilli powder while frying the tomato/coconut mixture which gives an awesome red colour once done. Also we add green peas while cooking the rice and skip the capsicum.
The reason why we keep checking the rice from sticking to the bottom is the coconut added in the spice paste. And our tomato bhat is not that mushy.
thanks for letting us know about the way tomato rice was made in your home. even i have seen a lot of recipes on the web and they use chopped tomatoes. but i think there are many variations and versions in a single recipe. it also depends on the home chef and what he or she prefers or likes. but to be honest, at home we prefer tomato rice this way. i made the rice mushy when i added the recipe. but at times i don’t make it mushy. adding red chili powder and green peas is a good suggestion. i will try next time.
Very nice recipe
thanks manishaa
Made this just now. Beautiful recipe. It tasted so so good! You’re a star.
thanks zarah
I tried them my husband really like it