• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cooking From Heart
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • CH Accolades
    • CH Video Recipes
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Subscribe to our Blog!
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Rice Recipes » Biriyani Recipes

    Tomato Biryani | Thakkali Biriyani | Quick Lunch Ideas

    Published: Nov 2, 2015 by Ramya · 23 Comments

    1 shares
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    CH_DSC_0457_4

    Yesterday I made this awesome Tomato Biriyani that I couldn’t stop myself from posting it here today. Usually Sunday means Biryani day, as it’s quite tasty and very easy to make. One pot meals are my to-go dishes for lazy Sunday afternoons. As it happens, I did not have mushrooms or eggs and I was in no mood to make the usual vegetable biryani. Last week, my colleague happened to mention about her mom’s tomato biriyani and that had me intrigued. A number of recipes turned up when searched google and as I forgot to check with my friend her mom’s recipe – I just decided to make it as per our taste preferences. It’s plain and flavorful, one of the simplest and tastiest Biriyanis. I am sure this recipe would be a regular at our household. As Biriyani happens to our favorite, I am planning to explore more on this and post different types of vegetarian biryanis as a part of Sunday Biryani series.

    This recipe is super simple to make and the addition of coconut milk cuts through the tanginess of the tomatoes and the golden yellow color is so inviting. I did not use any other vegetable for I wanted the flavor of tomato to come out. Also, I skipped mint leaves and added only fresh coriander leaves – I loved the freshness of coriander in this recipe. I used homemade coconut milk, but one can use store bought coconut milk to further ease the process.

    Check out my other Biryani recipes here.

    CH_DSC_0452_2

    To make Tomato Biryani

    • Servings: 2
    • Time: 35 mins
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Print

    What I used –
    • Basmati Rice, 1 cup
    • Onion, 1 large
    • Ripe Tomatoes, 3-4 medium
    • Green Chilli, 1-2
    • Ginger Garlic Paste, 1 tsp
    • Fresh Chopped Coriander, ½ cup
    • Dried Bay Leaf, 1
    • Cloves, 2
    • Green Cardamom, 1
    • Cinnamon, 1” piece
    • Turmeric Powder, ¼th tsp
    • Red Chilli Powder, 1 tsp
    • Kashmiri Chilli Powder, ½ tsp
    • Garam Masala, ½ tsp
    • Salt, as required
    • Thick Coconut Milk, 1 cup
    • Water, 1 cup
    • Oil, 1 tbsp

    CH_DSC_0443_1

    How I made –

    1. Wash and soak the Basmati rice in a cup of water before you begin the Biriyani preparation. This has to soak for atleast 20 mins, the amount of time for prepping exactly.

    2. In a thick bottomed pan, heat oil. Add bay leaf, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon. Fry for 20-30 secs. Add Slit green chilly and finely sliced onions. Fry until translucent and add ginger garlic paste. Fry for a min.prep1

    3. Add finely chopped tomatoes and cook until slightly mushy. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder, garam masala and salt. Cook until the raw smell is gone. Add freshly chopped coriander. Cook until mushy.prep2

    4. Add the water used to soak the rice. Check for salt and spice. Let the water come to a boil. Reduce the flame to low and add the thick coconut milk.prep3

    5. As it comes to a slow boil again, add the rice. Mix well. On a low flame, cook it closed for 7-10 min until the rice is cooked and there is no water content. Let the biryani sit for 5-7 mins before mixing it. Garnish with some fresh coriander.prep4

    6. Serve hot with raita of your choice!

    CH_DSC_0453_3

    Note –
    • I use 2 cups of water for each cup of Basmati rice. In this recipe, I have replaced a cup of water for thick coconut milk.
    • Instead of coconut milk, water can used too, but the taste is not the same. Similarly, water can be fully replaced with coconut milk for rich tasting Biriyani.
    • Adjust the spiciness by changing the quantity of red chilli powders or green chilly.
    • Using ripe tomatoes gives the required tanginess to this dish.
    • Additionally, green peas can be added as well.
    • Do not keep the flame on high after adding coconut milk, it can curdle easily. Cook it in low flame.
    • To make coconut milk at home, blend a cup of coconut in a cup of warm water until smooth – extract the milk to get the thick cocnut milk. The rest of the coconut can be used to either extract second/third milk similarly or used to make chutney!

    Share this: Show some love!

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
    • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
    • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

    Like this:

    Like Loading...

    More Biriyani Recipes

    • How to make Soya Biriyani Recipe
      Soya Biryani | Soya Chunks Biriyani Recipe
    • Vellai Biriyani Recipe
      Vellai Biriyani | Vellai Kuska Recipe | White Biryani Recipe
    • One Pot Egg Biryani Recipe
      Egg Biriyani | Homemade Egg Biryani Recipe
    • Veg Donne Biriyani Recipe
      Veg Donne Biryani | Donne Biryani Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Freda @ Aromatic essence

      November 02, 2015 at 10:34 am

      Biryani looks awesome, tomato biryani is new to me 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 02, 2015 at 5:58 pm

        Thank you Freda 🙂

        Reply
    2. Chitra Jagadish

      November 02, 2015 at 2:22 pm

      Flavorsome biryani dear....

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 02, 2015 at 5:58 pm

        Thanks Chitra 🙂

        Reply
    3. Lynz Real Cooking

      November 02, 2015 at 7:29 pm

      this sounds like a very delicious new Beriyani for me! yumm

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 02, 2015 at 8:53 pm

        It is Lynn! Do try it out 🙂 Thanks 🙂

        Reply
        • Lynz Real Cooking

          November 02, 2015 at 8:54 pm

          Sounds really good and different twist!

          Reply
          • CHCooks

            November 02, 2015 at 9:03 pm

            Thank you 🙂

            Reply
            • Lynz Real Cooking

              November 02, 2015 at 9:09 pm

              🙂

    4. Sowmiasgalley

      November 02, 2015 at 7:49 pm

      My mom used to make this.. I miss so badly now... Love the color and your presentation...

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 02, 2015 at 8:53 pm

        Thanks a lot Sowmi.. 🙂

        Reply
    5. srividhya

      November 02, 2015 at 9:03 pm

      sunday is the biriyani day for us too. It has come out so well. Love how the rice is non sticky.

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 03, 2015 at 6:44 am

        Thanks Vidhya 🙂

        Reply
    6. Malar

      November 03, 2015 at 12:27 am

      Awesome biriyani CH 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 04, 2015 at 1:54 pm

        Thank you so much Malar 🙂

        Reply
    7. Traditionally Modern Food

      November 03, 2015 at 4:25 am

      One of my fav..ur version looks delicious:-)

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 03, 2015 at 7:55 am

        thanks dear 🙂

        Reply
    8. Bharani

      November 03, 2015 at 9:04 pm

      my all time fav .... and to go food 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        November 03, 2015 at 9:09 pm

        🙂 it's one of my recent finds and it was lovely!

        Reply
    9. lynne hoareau

      January 11, 2016 at 10:51 pm

      Yum, this sounds so good 🙂

      Reply
      • CHCooks

        January 12, 2016 at 3:49 pm

        Thank you Lynne 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome

    Ramya-CookingFromHeart

    Hi! I am Ramya, the face and voice behind Cooking from Heart 🙂 I was born in Andhra Pradesh, brought up in Chennai and currently living in Bangalore. My food is an amalgamation of the different exposures I have had in my life. More about me →


    Popular Recipes

    • Eggless Gulab Jamun Cake
      Eggless Gulab Jamun Cake

    • Fried Gram Chutney without Coconut
      Pottukadalai Chutney | Fried Gram Chutney without Coconut

    • Soya Sukka Curry
      Soya Chunks Chukka | Soya Sukka Curry

    • Bakery Style Egg Puffs Recipe
      Egg Puff | Bakery Style Egg Puffs Recipe

    • Pressure Cooker Tomato Rice | Easy One Pot Tomato Rice

    • No-Bake Mango Cheesecake with Agar Agar
      No-Bake Mango Cheese Cake with Agar Agar


    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    As seen on

    • Featured
    my foodgawker gallery

    COPYRIGHT © 2025 - Cooking From Heart

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're okay with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT
    1 shares
    %d