Tomato Bhath

There is a lot of confusion if this is a fruit or a vegetable. These Red Juicy Tomatoes have all the characteristics of Fruit but used as vegetable.
Solanum lycopersicum as it is known.. our lovely tomato is a real life saver.the close cousins of this cute little fruit are harmless potato , brinjal and has a few unusual cousins like tobacco and the poisonous Belladona....This tomato which is often taken for granted has a lot to offer.they are rich in Vitamin C and A along with folate,fibre, potassium and proteins. They are important source of antioxidants which play role in preventing diseases.
Flavonoids present in tomatoes have antioxidant , anti-viral and anti - inflammatory properties...Drinking tomato juice regularly can keep the bacterias and viruses away from the body... more vitamin c means protection against cold and flu.
They have cosmetic value as well.. they have a nourish effect on skin and act as natural sunscreen.
Tomatoes also have cardio vascular benefits... and wonderful anti-aging qualities... Lycopene and beta carotene present in the ma re anti aging components.Goodness of tomato can be understood by the above link. But then everything has to be in a limit isn't it?
Tomatoes consumed in excess can develop gall stones and Kidney stones (Oxalate Stones) I have read.But these are usually dissolved by drinking a lot of water. So eat healthy... of course be in limits and stay happy.
We can include tomato in various ways in our diet.Tomatoes are high in the antioxidant vitamins beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E, as well as the carotenoid lycopene. This means that tomatoes are helpful in preventing heart disease and cancers. Tomatoes are also high in potassium but very low in sodium which means they help combat high blood pressure and fluid retention.
Unlike some other canned foods, canned tomatoes retain most of their nutrients. In fact, cooked or canned tomatoes contain more lycopene than raw tomatoes. If buying canned tomatoes choose varieties without added sodium.
Calories in Tomatoes:4 oz/100g = 17 calories

Salads,Rice, Sandwich ,Tomato soups ,chutneys ,and our usual Saaru (Rasam) .Today I made Tomato Bhath, a pretty tasty and filling rice dish. This takes hardly 15 minutes to prepare.

TOMATO BHATH

INGREDIENTS:

3 ripe tomatoes (chopped fine)

2 onions (chopped longitudinally)

1 green chilli (split long)

2 cups of rice

2 spoons of MTR Vangi bhath powder

2 spoons of cumin seeds/jeera

1 pinch of turmeric powder1pinch of asafoetida

salt to taste

two spoons of oil curry leaves and coriander leaves for decoration .

Method of Preparation:

In a pressure cooker pour two spoons of oil.Add jeera and turmeric powder. When the jeera starts turning brown add chopped onions and green chillies (add more if you like spicy taste) and saute them.When they get tender add asafoetida, salt and vangi bhath powder. You can add some tamarind juice if you feel the tomatoes aren't sour enough. Then add rice and saute for a few minutes. Add two cups of water (ratio of rice is 1 rice : 2 Water). Close the cooker and let the cooker blow the whistle twice . Turn the heat off and let the cooker cool down before you open.

Serve hot with Onion rings or Raita or Papad.

Bye for now.