By Aditi Saraswat
November 17, 2025
Karnataka-style tomato bath is a perfect dish for quick lunches, tiffin boxes, or lazy weekend plans. Made with tomatoes, spices, and cooked rice, it has tangy, mildly spicy flavours in every bite.
1 cup rice 2 cups water 3 medium tomatoes, finely chopped 1 medium onion, sliced 2 green chillies, slit 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste 2 tbsp oil ½ tsp mustard seeds ½ tsp cumin seeds 6–8 curry leaves ¼ tsp turmeric powder 1–1½ tsp red chilli powder 1½ tsp sambar / bisi bele bath powder (optional) Salt to taste 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
Rinse 1 cup of rice, soak it for 15 minutes and cook it with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt.
In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil/ghee and add ½ teaspoon of mustard, ½ teaspoon of cumin, 6–8 curry leaves, and some sliced onions. Sauté till the onions turn light golden.
In it, add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste and 2 slit green chillies. Fry until the raw smell fades away, releasing a spicy, aromatic masala base.
Add 3 chopped tomatoes, ¼ tsp turmeric, 1–1½ tsp red chilli powder, and salt. Cook until the tomatoes turn soft and the oil separates.
Add in 1½ tsp sambar powder or bisi bele bath powder (optional) and cook for another 1–2 minutes.
To the mixture, add the cooked rice, and gently mix. Garnish with some chopped coriander and serve hot with raita or papad.