TOMATO CHITRANNA

Nandita of "Saffron trail" blog is hosting the monthly event "Weekend Breakfast Blogging #15" this Sept. This month's theme is "cooking with Leftovers".Tomato Chitranna, a ever popular breakfast for all Kannadigas or should I say for most South Indians, made with leftover rice (or freshly cooked rice too) is my entry to this event.Thanks for hosting Nandita!:)

Chitra anna in Kannada literally means Colorful rice. You can make this in many variations with Lemon juice, Tomato and grated green Mangoes as well.This is also a quick dish to make in a hurry in the morning. Usually, Chitranna is made with leftover long grain or Sona Massoori rice,heated and mixed with rice for a quick breakfast. It takes about 25 mins to make the whole dish and with some Cashews or Peanuts,it's healthier too. Enjoy.

Tomato Chitranna:


You need about 6 cups of leftover rice, reheated in the morning and grains separated and spread in a wide pan or cook 2 cups of any rice you like,my choice is long grain here which tastes better mixed with Tomato masala.I add 2 cups of rice in a large glass bowl, add 3 1/2 cups water and microwave it uncovered for 15mins on high and cover with lid and microwave again for 5 mins with 5o% power. Now, prepare the Tomato masala.
When the rice is hot,add to a wide pan (Paraat you use for making chapati dough),spread it and let it cool.

You need all these+1/4 cup Peanuts or Cahewnuts and 1/4 tsp turmeric(I forgot to add here in the photo!):

1-2 onions thinly sliced, few Cilantro, 3 plum or 20 Cherry or any kind of Tomatoes you have, salt, 1/4 tsp turmeric.
Season: 2 tbsp oil, 1 tsp mustard seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, few curry leaves,1/4 cup Peanuts or 4 tbsp Cahewnuts, 1 tbsp each of Chana dal, Urad dal, Greengram dal(Moong dal), 3-4 green chillies.

How to make it:

This process with take about 15-17 mins, while the rice is cooling. Heat oil in big pan enough to hold the rice, add seasoning ingredients one by on, and fry until peanuts and green chillies get roasted well to reddish color.Add sliced onions,fry until soft and slightly red on the edges,add salt and tomatoes,fry for another 5 mins.Tomatoes don't have to cook completely,tastes better if they are soft and not mashed.Your Tomato masala is done.


Now, take the cooled rice and add to the dish to mix or add the masala to the rice platter and mix well.Adjust the salt and your Tomato Chitranna is ready!! Enjoy with yogurt raita and Potato crisps if you like!

Have a great weekend, see you all on Monday!:))