Lemon and Tomato Rice

I was supposed to be making Pizza today but a movie changed plans. I am posting this dish instead which was waiting as a draft. This dish was born out of laziness and left overs. So what is the easiest thing to cook? I am sure most of you will say rice. Add rice, water and cook. But that is the one thing I always cook more than needed. My thinking is the next day I will just have to make daal and it will be dinner. Mostly it doesn't happen so. Well I had some leftover rice and decided to make this. My mom makes a delicious version, vagharela bhaat (seasoned rice) and I wanted to make that. I ended up tweaking the recipe more and made this lemon and tomato rice instead. It is yum and reminds me of home!

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked rice

2 tablespoons oil

1/2 medium onion diced

2 medium tomato diced

Juice of 1 lemon

7-8 curry leaves

1/2 inch piece ginger diced

3-4 green chilies

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds (Jeera)

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds (Rai)

Pinch of asafoetida (hing)

Pinch turmeric

Salt

Heat oil in heavy bottomed pan. Add asafoetida, cumin and mustard seeds. When they start spluttering, add the onions. When they are translucent add the turmeric, chilies, ginger and curry leaves. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the rice. Mix well and try to separate every grain of rice so there are no lumps of white rice. Finally add the tomato, lemon juice and salt. Mix and cook for a couple of more minutes till the tomato is cooked. It tastes yummy by itself but can be served with a side of spicy seasoned curd.