Quick Tomato Rice w/wo Pasta Sauce

Tomato Rice Using Pasta Sauce (Student-Friendly)

Ingredients

-Cooked rice – 2 cups (cooled)

-Pasta sauce (tomato-based) – 4 tbsp

-Ghee/Oil – 1 tbsp

-Cumin seeds (jeera) – 1 tsp

-Onion – 1 medium, Thinly sliced

-Green chillies – 2 slit

-Curry leaves – 4–5 (optional)

-Biryani masala – ½ tsp

-Salt – 1 tsp (adjust to taste)

-Water – 3–4 tbsp

-Coriander – 1 tbsp, chopped

-Mint leaves – 1–2 tsp, finely chopped (optional but recommended)

Process - 

Step 1 – Prepare the Base

- Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pan. Add 1 tsp jeera and let it splutter.

-Add thinly sliced onion and green chillies.

- If available, add 4–5 curry leaves for extra flavour. 

- Sauté everything until the onions turn light brown.

Step 2 – Add the Tomato Pasta Sauce

- Lower the heat and add 4 tbsp tomato-based pasta sauce.

- Mix well and cook for 5–7 minutes on low to medium flame, stirring so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.

- Add ½ tsp biryani masala, mix and cook for another minute.

Step 3 – Combine With Rice

- Add 2 cups cooked & cooled rice.

- Sprinkle 1 tsp salt (adjust as needed).

- Add 3–4 tbsp water to help mix everything smoothly.

- Adding 1–2 tsp finely chopped mint is a game changer for flavour.

- Gently combine without breaking the rice.

Step 4 – Final Steam

- Cover the pan and cook on low heat for 2–4 minutes.

- Turn off the flame and keep it covered for another 5 minutes.

Step 5 – Garnish & Serve

- Open the lid, fluff the rice, and garnish with fresh coriander.

Serve warm — perfect on its own or with your favourite raita.

If You Don’t Have Pasta Sauce  You can still make this recipe easily using fresh tomatoes.

Ingredients:

-Tomatoes – 2 medium

-Garlic – 3–4 cloves

Salt –to taste

Process:

- Blend tomatoes and garlic into a smooth puree.

- Add this puree in place of pasta sauce, but cook it for 7–10 minutes on medium heat until the raw smell of tomatoes disappears and the colour deepens. now add cooked rice and follow the recipe as mentioned above. 

Tools I Used and I Recommend 💖

Non-Stick Frying Pan – Perfect for quick sautés and tadkas, heats evenly, and makes student-friendly cooking so much easier.

Stainless Steel rice Spatula – Great for mixing rice without breaking the grains and helps prevent sticking while sautéing.

Microwave rice maker- 

Rice Cooker – Ideal for students; cooks rice perfectly and doubles as a quick one-pot tool for many recipes.