Spicy Tomato Rice

What is the main food of a Sri Lankan? If you ask this question from anyone, the definite answer would be Rice. So, I don’t think a Sri Lankan can survive without having at least rice for a single meal of the day. So, we love to make rice in so many different ways. So today I brought you guys a rice dish, it is actually tomato rice. This is a really quick and easy recipe, and it won’t take more than 20 minutes of your time. Since it is that easy to make, you can make this as a quick dinner dish as well. 

Things you need to know before we making this rice...

• Coriander Leaves - when it comes to coriander leaves, it's not essential to add coriander leaves to this rice. if you don't like the taste of coriander leaves you can simply skip that step.

• Chili Tomato Puree

You can Make this in 3 simple ways.

• Blend 2 Boiled Tomatoes +1 Ghost pepper
• Blend Tomato Puree (150ml) +1 Ghost Pepper
• Blend Tomato Paste (100ml) + Water (75ml) + Ghost Pepper

Here I have Blend Tomato Puree (150ml) +1 Ghost Pepper.

• Ghost Pepper - So, before we go any further, I have to confess something. You all know that I love spicy food, right? so for this particular dish also, I am going to add some Ghost Pepper. But if you guys don’t like spicy, you can enjoy this recipe without adding Ghost Pepper as well.

• This Rice goes well with Boiled or Fried eggs and Fried or baked Chicken. And also if you are a gravy or curry lover chicken Curry, Mutton Curry or Spicy mushroom curry would be a great match. Moreover, if you can make a Simple Raita using some vegies that would be really delicious with this rice. So this version of Raita is made with plain yogurt, a little bit of milk, cucumber, onions, bell pepper, and fresh green chilies. And as I know there are a lot of variations in India and many other kinds of Raita, not just this veggie Raita, but here I used the basic recipe that I am familiar with.

Did you Know?

Tomatoes are packed with vitamins

So, a single tomato provides 40% of the daily required amount of vitamin C. Not only that, but it also provides vitamin A, which will help in immunity, vision, and skin health. Also, Tomatoes are packed with vitamin K and vitamin K is really good for bones. The next vitamin is Potassium, and which is one of the major nutrients which will help in heart functions, muscle contractions and also it helps maintain a good level of blood pressure.

It helps with the heart

Tomatoes have an antioxidant called lycopene and this is what makes a tomato red. So, if you want to increase your heart health benefits, it is better to simply eat tomatoes rather than take lycopene supplements. This was proven by main research and other studies show that higher blood levels of lycopene are mainly responsible to lower death rates for people with metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of high-risk factors which will cause you to develop heart attacks, diabetes, and stroke.

Improves your vision

So, lycopene is good for your eyes and that’s not the only nutrient that is good for your eyes. There is a nutrient called lutein and beta-carotene and according to studies these nutrients support the vision and protect against cataracts and macular degeneration.

Boosts digestion

Tomatoes are filled with fluids and fiber, and this will help if you have any constipation. Do you know that one large tomato contains 1.5g of fiber and 6 ounces of fluid? But for some people, the acidity from cooked tomatoes might worsen any acid reflux or indigestion.

Fights diabetes

Tomatoes help with type 2 diabetes. Some researchers say that people with diabetes who took cooked tomatoes for 30 days had a decrease in lipid peroxidation, a chain reaction where free radicals attack fat, leading to damage that reduces the risk of heart disease. This is really important because diabetes can double the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

For a better skin

In 2011, a study showed that tomato paste and olive oil protect again sun burns and boost the production of pro-collagen, which is a molecule that structures the skin and keeps it firm and youthful. Not only that most scientists believe that lycopene in tomatoes is the main key because it gets to its highest concentration when it is cooked, and it boosts its absorption from your digestive system into your bloodstream when it is paired with olive oil

Works well against cancer

Many researchers have found connections between the superstar compound lycopene and prostate, ovarian, lung, and stomach cancers.

So, let's jump to the recipe.