Easy Tomato Rice in Pressure Cooker (Thakkali Sadam) is a quick, flavorful one-pot South Indian rice dish prepared with juicy ripe tomatoes, onions, garlic, and aromatic spices. Ready in 30 minutes, it is the ultimate quick lunch box recipe for kids and office goers that pairs deliciously with cool onion raita and crispy papad!
I am a big big fan of South Indian tomato rice (Thakkali sadam in Tamil). So I keep trying varieties of tomato rice recipes. Earlier I had posted my version of traditional thakkali sadam in which the spicy tomato paste is mixed with cooked rice. Then I shared my friend Shalini’s tomato rice recipe using electric rice cooker.
Today I have shared how to make tomato rice directly in a pressure cooker. I learnt this recipe from my Thangam Athai (my dad’s sister). It’s a very simple, quick, and easy-to-make rice variety that is ideal for lunch box preparation.
This tomato rice recipe is prepared with very few whole garam masala ingredients and has a slight spicy taste, so it has become our family favorite. I loved it very much and had the same for my lunch & dinner as well. Simple onion raita and a papad or vadagam would be the best side dish for this tomato rice. Friends, do try this yummy South Indian style Tomato rice recipe for your lunch box. I am sure you will love its taste. Now let’s see how to make Thakkali sadam using a pressure cooker easily with step by step photos. I have updated this recipe with a full video, please check it!
Check out my Tomato biryani recipe, Tomato rice using rice cooker, and Traditional tomato rice too!
Quick Notes for US & Abroad Kitchens
- Tomato Selection: Use ripe, juicy Roma tomatoes or tomatoes on the vine. If fresh tomatoes in winter lack natural tang or deep red color, add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste or tomato puree while sautéing.
- Rice & Water Ratio: For standard Sona Masoori or Ponni boiled rice, use a 1:2 ratio (1 cup rice to 2 cups water). If using aged Basmati rice, reduce the water to 1.75 cups to keep the grains separate and fluffy. Soak the rice for at least 20–30 minutes before cooking.
- Cooking in an Instant Pot: Sauté onions, garlic, and tomatoes on Sauté mode until mushy. Add soaked rice and water, cancel Sauté, and pressure cook on Manual/High Pressure for 5 minutes followed by 10 minutes natural pressure release.
- Herbs & Seasoning: Fresh garlic, curry leaves, and a generous handful of coriander leaves are key to the traditional South Indian mess flavor. A few fresh mint leaves can also be added for extra aroma.
Easy Tomato Rice Recipe In Pressure Cooker – Thakkali Sadam Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup Steamed rice / Boiled rice (approx. 200g / 7 oz) (or Ponni / Sona Masoori / Basmati rice)
- 4 big Ripe tomatoes (approx. 300g / 10.5 oz) finely chopped
- 2 medium Big onions (approx. 150g / 5.3 oz) finely chopped
- 1 no Green chilli long one finely chopped (or 3 slit chillies for spicy rice)
- ⅛ tsp Turmeric powder
- 1 tsp Red chilli powder (approx. 3g / 0.1 oz) (add 1.5 tsp for spicy rice)
- 3 tbsp Cooking oil (approx. 45 ml / 1.5 fl oz)
- 2 inch Cinnamon stick
- 2 nos Cloves
- 5 cloves Garlic finely chopped
- few sprigs Curry leaves
- 1 fistful Fresh coriander leaves finely chopped
- Salt as needed
- 2 cups Water (approx. 480 ml / 16 fl oz) (use 1.75 cups for basmati rice)
Instructions
- Wash and chop the onion, tomatoes, green chilli, garlic cloves, curry leaves, and coriander leaves very finely. Wash and soak the rice in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes. (If using basmati rice, use 1.75 cups of water).
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker base. Add cinnamon stick and cloves. Add finely chopped garlic cloves and sauté for a second. Then add the chopped onions and sauté till translucent. Add finely chopped green chilli and curry leaves; sauté for a few seconds.
- Add finely chopped tomato pieces and required salt for the rice. Sauté until tomatoes turn pulpy and mushy. Add turmeric powder and red chilli powder; mix well for a few seconds.
- Lastly, add the soaked rice along with the measured soaking water. Mix well and check for taste, adding more salt or red chilli powder if needed. Close cooker lid and pressure cook on low-medium flame for 1 whistle (takes about 8 to 10 minutes). Turn off flame and let steam release naturally.
- Open the lid after the pressure is completely released. Gently fluff the hot cooked rice with a fork without breaking the grains. Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves, mix gently, and serve hot with onion raita and papad.
Video
Notes
- Add more chilli powder if you want spicy tomato rice.
- Adding coriander leaves gives a nice flavor to this rice. So do not skip it.
- You can also add mint leaves along with curry leaves if you like the flavor of mint leaves.
- I have used steamed rice / puzhungal arisi. You can use basmati rice or raw rice. But soak the rice in water for minimum 30 minutes to get fluffy, soft and grainy rice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Soak the rice for 20 to 30 minutes, measure the water accurately (2 cups for Sona Masoori or 1.75 cups for Basmati), and cook on low-medium flame for just 1 whistle. Once the steam releases naturally, open the cooker and gently fluff the grains with a fork.
Sona Masoori, Ponni raw rice, or steamed rice are traditional for South Indian lunch box tomato rice. Aged Basmati rice also works wonderfully if you prefer longer, separated grains.
Very sour country tomatoes (Naatu Thakkali) can make the rice too tart. Use ripe hybrid/salad tomatoes (such as Roma tomatoes), or add 1/4 teaspoon of sugar or jaggery while sautéing to balance the acidity.
Yes! This pressure cooker tomato rice stays soft and flavorful at room temperature for several hours, making it one of the most popular South Indian lunch box dishes for kids and office.
Enjoy this delicious South Indian style tomato rice recipe and have a quick lunch!
Really quick and tasty recipe.
Thank you !
amma makes the similar version but with whole spices and garam masala.:)this looks super simple.will share that version soon
Oh wow,it must be my kind. I will check your post ramya :)
ginger not required ?
Not needed.
Thank you Chitra. Finally I cooked amazing tomato rice dish. Every other time I either had too mushy or too uncooked. The trick that you explained for low flame on 1 whistle worked. Easy to follow your instructions and very tasty. Customised a bit, added grated ginger and few pepper seeds to get some spice. Awesome recipe. Thank you!
Great. Thank you so much. Liked your variations too. Thanks again for taking time to share your feedback with me :)
Prepared today.. Quick preparation and tasty.. I liked Mahesh kumar's variations.. grated ginger and pepper as well.. Will add next time.. Thank you..
Thanks a lot for your feedback. Sure try with variations and do share your thoughts 😊