One-pot tomato pulao is a very quick and easy dish using only a layering technique, ready in under 20 minutes!! What more can you ask for; paired with a raita (plain yogurt with spices and vegetables) and some potato chips, this is perfect for a lazy dinner night, great when guests drop by suddenly, even for a picnic or in kids’ lunch box!!!
Tomato rice is my husband’s favorite rice dish using ready cooked rice; I used to make this regularly for his office lunch box. My aunt makes awesome tomato rice (I need to get her recipe soon!!); this one came out so good and tasty; now I have a quick rice to prepare in a hurry!!!
There are various ways to make tomato rice, either using tomato juice or pulp with spices/sautéing the tomatoes with spices and mixing cooked rice, or like a pulao - cooking the rice with the tomato and spices!! My method needs no frying, no sautéing and no blending!!! Just layer the ingredients and use a pressure pan to make this scrumptious pulao in a jiffy; ready in less than 20 minutes!!
I have used Pav Bhaji masala powder; you can use any masala powder you like – sambhar powder, curry powder, garam masala powder, biryani masala powder etc.!! To give a crunch and texture, I found some sprouted mung beans in my refrigerator (leftover after making sprouted kosambari and moong ghashi) and decided to add these too and up the protein content in my pulao!! You can add any vegetable or even paneer or tofu.
Quick tomato pulao is a must-make dish and do let me know how it turned out!! For other quick rice dishes, try
Lets make us some pulao:
Quick pressure cooker tomato pulao is a very quick, one-pot dish using fresh veggies and a layering technique, ready in under 20 minutes!!
Ingredients
- ½ cup basmati rice or any other rice
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 small onion, sliced or chopped
- 2 green chillies/jalapeno, chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste (or grated)
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 2 cloves
- 1 small piece cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon Pav Bhaji masala powder/garam masala powed/biryani masala powder/sambhar powder
- ½ cup mung bean sprouts
- ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves
- Salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons oil/ghee/clarified butter or combination of both
Instructions
- Wash the rice in plenty of water, drain and keep aside.
- Chop all the vegetables and keep the ingredients ready.
- Mix the tomatoes, Pav bhaji masala powder (or any other powder you prefer as mentioned), chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander leaves. Keep it aside.
- Heat a pressure pan over low heat and add the oil/ghee and spread this on the bottom of the pan.
- Start layering the ingredients.
- Sprinkle the cloves and cinnamon.
- Spread the onions over this.
- Spoon the tomato mixture over the onions evenly.
- Add the sprouts next.
- Lastly, layer the washed and drained rice, sprinkle salt to taste and pour hot water evenly over the whole mixture.
- At this stage, you may choose to stir the whole mixture gently once or leave it as such.
- Close the pressure pan and increase the heat to high.
- Once the pressure builds up and after one whistle, reduce the heat and cook on low for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, on high, let it cook for 2 whistles for al dente rice or 2 whistles for a softer rice texture.
- Let the pressure release on its own, remove the lid of the pressure pan and gently fluff up the rice with a fork.
- Serve this fast and easy tomato pulao with any raita (boondi raita, tomato and onion raita, or just plain yogurt) and some potato chips for a tasty quick meal.
Notes
For a royal touch to the pulao, use ghee and garnish with cashew/almonds and raisins, roasted in ghee.
If you do not have sprouts, use any vegetable you prefer.
This pulao can be made with any type of rice; the amount of water should be adjusted accordingly.
Addition of more aromatic Indian spices like cardamom, bay leaves, cumin etc. will give it a different unique flavor, so feel free to play around with spices.
Step-by-step method:
Wash the rice in plenty of water, drain and keep aside.
Chop all the vegetables and keep the ingredients ready.
Mix the tomatoes, Pav bhaji masala powder (or any other powder you prefer as mentioned), chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander leaves. Keep it aside.
Heat a pressure pan over low heat and add the oil/ghee and spread this on the bottom of the pan. (Avoid the ghee and use only oil to make it totally vegan).
Start layering the ingredients.
Sprinkle the cloves and cinnamon.
Spread the onions and ginger-garlic paste over this.
Spoon the tomato mixture over the onions evenly.
Add the sprouts next.
Lastly, layer the washed and drained rice, sprinkle salt to taste and pour hot water evenly over the whole mixture.
At this stage, you may choose to stir the whole mixture gently once or leave it as such.
Close the pressure pan and increase the heat to high.
Once the pressure builds up and after one whistle, reduce the heat and cook on low for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, on high, let it cook for 2 whistles for al dente rice or 3 whistles for a softer rice texture.
Let the pressure release on its own, remove the lid of the pressure pan and gently fluff up the rice with a fork.
Serve this fast and easy tomato pulao with any raita (boondi raita, tomato and onion raita, or just plain yogurt) and some potato chips for a tasty quick meal.
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I love one pot meals as they make life so easy. This is quite a flavorful and healthy pulao with pav bhaji masala and sprouts.
Thanks so much dear 🙂 Pav bhaji masala powder gives it a lovely street food taste!
Thank you Praneetha 🙂
Thanks Nisha 🙂 I have tried a few recipes using this technique and the outcome is awesome!!
Huge fan of one pot meal, and I love the addition of sprouted moong in here, well balanced meal.
Thanks so much dear 🙂 I love to add sprouts whenever I can to enhance the texture and nutrition!
Ah, this is new to me. Totally a different method from how i used to make. I love tomato rice and I will definitely try this out!
Thanks Nisha ? I have tried a few recipes using this technique and the outcome is awesome!!
I always love one pot meal and tomato rice is one of our favorite...I loved the fact you used sprouts in the rice to make it more yummy and healthy
Thanks Lathiya 🙂 🙂 I love adding sprouts to most dishes; tasty and healthy!
one pot meal is always a great meal every single time we make. Tomato pulao looking so inviting and flavorful. Perfectly cooked.
Thank you 🙂 🙂
One pot meals are such a blessing on busy days, love the addition of sprouts to the rice!
Thanks so much Priya 🙂 Absolutely, one-pot meals are a savior whenever we are short on time but need a filling meal!
I love pulao. It's such a versatile meal and you can always make it differently, depending on what is available at home.
Thanks dear 🙂 Yes, any vegetable goes with this; one pot and delicious!
Looks divine dear!! I am a big fan of one pot meals. Some tomato rice with boondi raita and pickle. My life is set. 🙂
Me too!! Love one-pot meals anytime; time saver and less dishes to wash! Boondi raita sounds divine with it!
One pot meals are so convenient and easy to make. This sounds relish.
Absolutely!!! It is my go-to method for quick meals on the dinner table!
Tomato pulao with already cooked rice is always a preferred dish for lunch box. Addition of moong bean sprouts is a clever idea to make it healthier and tasty. Great share!!!!
Thanks dear 🙂 🙂
One pot meals are so comforting and this tomato pulao with sprouts are so nutritious too ! Lovely share !
Thanks so much Poonam 🙂 🙂
Wow this one pot meal looks great...love the way you have done layering in this.
Thanks dear Renu 🙂 🙂 Layering quickens an already easy dish even further!
One can never get bored of one pot meal ideas. I’m surely adding this to my list of rice varieties, looks so so delicious.
Thank you Praneetha ?
Love one pot meals like these Vanita! They are a complete meal and filling too. I like dyour use of sprouted mung.
Me too!! They make meals so easy when you are short on time or just feel lazy! Thanks so much Sandhya 🙂 🙂
Love this one pot meal always !!! Ready in a jiffy and tastes so delicious as well 🙂
Thanks so much dear 🙂 🙂