How To Cook Tomato Fried Rice

Tomato fried rice is a dish I replicated after tasting it at a family friend’s place. It was during this last festive period my family and I went to visit them and we were served this delicious meal. When I saw chunky fresh sliced tomatoes inside fried rice I was amazed but surprisingly the food was inviting and delicious. Even my husband was really happy about it especially because of the tomatoes in it and it even made him ask for more. I found this meal new and interesting so I decided I was going to try it out.

Why add tomato to fried rice?

We know fried rice is prepared by mixing fried veggies with rice and tomato is also a veggie-like ingredient that I wouldn’t have thought would be able to go well with it. Tomatoes are commonly used for preparing Jollof rice instead, but now I believe tomato is a star ingredient of fried rice. 

Tomato has a special taste and is rich in flavour that it releases into the rice. It will beautify the rice in a way that you won’t resist eating. It is better to use a firm and plum tomato and not one that is pulp and watery. Using a firm tomato will make the rice not be mushy and look more like Jollof rice. If what you got are a pulp and watery tomato, you can bring out the juice inside before slicing it into the dish. 

Read also: How To Cook Rice ( Long grain, Medium grain and Short grain)

What other veggies can you add to tomato fried rice?

Use any other veggies of your choice for this dish, as much as you want your rice to be garnished. You can even add sliced cooked eggs to the fried veggies before incorporating them into the rice. When considering cooking tomato fried rice, it is best you keep it simple.

How to store your tomatoes

When you have ripe, firm and plum tomatoes that you are not ready to use immediately, keep them in a cool place with a temperature of about 55° F – 65° F so as to retain their flavour and firmness. Use a food storage container that is lined with a paper towel to store them. It is not advisable to keep it in the refrigerator so that it will not lose its flavour and texture. Just keep it in a cool but not cold place.

Health benefits of tomatoes

Tomatoes are a great addition and they are enjoyed fresh in any dish, they give this sweet tomato aroma. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and potassium. Tomatoes benefit health in several ways due to the presence of some antioxidants in them. It helps in reducing the risk of any heart disease and cancer. It can help in maintaining glowing skin and hair, it can also help to regulate blood pressure and is also good for weight loss.

The ingredients I used for this tomato fried rice recipe are

Final note

Do you love this recipe just like me? Or tomatoes in fried rice is a no-no for you?. If you would also like to give this a try, please mention it too. I would love to hear from you.

Thank you so much for your time!