Tomato rice is a South Indian favourite dish loved by people from all across the country. It combines juicy, ripe tomatoes with fragrant spices and rice. The rice variety used to make this plays a major role in determining the texture and taste of this dish. Therefore, shopping groceries online and selecting the right variety of rice is key to obtaining the ideal texture and flavour.
In this blog, we will look at the most popular rice varieties and how each contributes its own distinction to tomato rice recipe. Let’s dive in.
Basmati Vs Ponni Vs Sona Masuri Rice: Which is Ideal for Tomato Rice Recipe?
Basmati Rice
Basmati has long, thin grains and a strong scent loved by everyone. The grains do not stick together when cooked and are light and fluffy, making it suitable for non-sticky consistency recipes. Basmati’s pungency enhances the overall flavour of the dish as it goes well with the tangy tomatoes.
Since it is not sticky, it does not hold the spices and tomatoes together as much, and it gives a more loose texture to the dish.
Ponni Rice
In South India people mostly eat Ponni rice, which is a medium-grain rice. The cooked Ponni rice has a slightly sticky consistency, which assists in bringing the tomatoes and spices together and creating a single entity of tomato rice. Its flavour-absorbing quality makes it an ideal choice for a tomato rice recipe.
Sona Masoori
Sona Masoori is another medium-grain variety of rice, mainly grown in the Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states of India. It is aromatic and light, although not as much as Basmati. Sona Masoori is in between being fluffy and being slightly sticky after cooking. This gives it a great balance that will catch the flavour of the tomato and spices without being distasteful.
Tomato Rice Recipe: Cooking Techniques and Considerations
The rice should be rinsed and soaked before cooking for about 20 minutes. It helps in keeping the grains fluffy and avoids breakage.
As Basmati is non-sticky, it suits recipes in which the tomato masala is cooked separately and then combined with the cooked rice so that even distribution of flavours occurs.
Ponni and Sona Masoori can be prepared only with tomato masala. Their starch content allow them to absorb the flavours better and become a dish with a much more homogeneous blend. Cooking them with the tomatoes and masala helps the rice absorb the strong tomato flavours, resulting in an even more homogeneous flavour profile.
Basmati Vs Ponni Vs Sona Masuri Rice: Which is Beneficial to your Health?
Ponni and Sona masoori come with little calories and a lower glycemic index, they are perfect for those who control their sugar levels. Moreover, the brown basmati contains high fibre content, which helps you to digest it easily.
Summary
While shopping groceries, selecting the right type of rice for the best tomato rice recipe is essential. Basmati is a scented and non-sticky variety, great for those who like fluffy, non-sticky rice. Ponni has a slightly sticky consistency & a well-balanced mix of flavours, whereas Sona Masoori has the characteristics of the above two.