Photo: Allrecipes

Greek Tomato Rice: An Easy Domatorizo Side Ready in 35 Minutes

by · Greek City Times

Greek tomato rice, known at home as domatorizo, turns a cup of rice, a little tomato and some parsley into a cheerful side in 35 minutes.

Photo: Allrecipes

What is Greek tomato rice?

In Greek, domata means tomato and rizi means rice, so domatorizo is exactly what it sounds like. It is one of the plainest dishes in the Greek kitchen, yet many families cook it every week.

The method is close to a pilaf. First, you toast the rice in olive oil with onion and garlic. Then it simmers gently in broth and tomato until every grain is soft but still separate.

Because it uses pantry staples, the tomato pilafi is a favourite for busy weeknights. It also stretches a small piece of meat or fish into a full meal for the whole family.

Read more: Arakas Latheros Turns Frozen Peas Into a Hearty Greek Dinner

If you enjoyed our lemon pilafi recipe, think of this as its red cousin. The lemon version is bright and sharp, while domatorizo is softer, sweeter and a little more comforting.

Ingredients for six serves

This version comes from vpecchia, who shared it on Allrecipes in 2019. It holds 4.6 out of 5 from five ratings, and the cook calls it a wonderful partner for roast chicken.

You need only nine ingredients for the Greek tomato rice:

  • 30 ml (2 US tablespoons) olive oil
  • ½ small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 US cup (about 200 g) long-grain rice
  • 360 ml (1½ US cups) chicken broth
  • 120 ml (½ US cup) tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • freshly ground black pepper

In US recipes, tomato sauce means plain, lightly seasoned tomato purée rather than the sweet sauce Australians squeeze onto a pie. So reach for passata or a tin of plain tomato purée instead.

Also note that a US tablespoon holds 15 ml, while an Australian one holds 20 ml. For this reason, it pays to measure the oil and liquids in millilitres.

Each serve has about 167 calories, 27 g of carbohydrate and 5 g of fat, according to Allrecipes. Since the broth adds most of the 595 mg of sodium, a salt-reduced stock is an easy swap.

How to cook the rice with tomato

The Greek tomato rice takes about five minutes to prepare and 30 minutes on the stove.

  1. First, warm the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add the onion and garlic and cook for about 3 minutes, until soft and see-through.
  3. Next, tip in the rice and stir for 2 minutes, until the grains look lightly toasted.
  4. Pour in the broth and tomato sauce, then add the parsley, salt and pepper.
  5. Bring everything to the boil.
  6. After that, cover the pan, turn the heat down low and simmer for about 20 minutes.
  7. Finally, check that the liquid has gone and the rice is tender.

Try not to lift the lid while the domatorizo cooks, because the steam does much of the work. Once the rice is tender, let the pan rest off the heat for five minutes, then fluff the grains with a fork.

Many Greek cooks finish their rice with a squeeze of lemon or a little extra olive oil. Either one brightens the tomato without hiding it.

Tips from home cooks

The recipe has only one written review so far, but it is a useful one. Bren, who also took the photo above, cut the recipe back to three serves and used homemade chicken broth.

She also used tomato sauce that she had canned herself and made no other changes. In her words, the dish was “simple yet tasty”, and she gave it four stars.

Another home cook gave the Greek tomato rice five stars and turned it into a salad. She added Greek dressing, water, green olives, cucumber and fresh tomatoes to the pot.

For a fasting day or a vegetarian table, simply use vegetable stock instead of chicken broth. Similarly, a pinch of dried oregano or a little crumbled feta on top gives the tomato pilafi a stronger Greek accent.

What to serve with domatorizo

Domatorizo is happiest next to roast chicken, as the original cook suggests. It also works well beside grilled meat, such as our lamb skewers with oregano, or with a simple fried egg on top.

Seafood lovers can pair it with an octopus stew, so the rice soaks up the extra sauce. For a full spread, add a bowl of our garlic dip and a plate of olives.

Leftovers keep in the fridge for two to three days. However, cool the rice quickly and reheat it until steaming hot, as with any cooked rice.

For more ideas, read up on Hellenic food traditions, or find the full Greek tomato rice recipe on the original Allrecipes page.

Source: Allrecipes

Stay connected to Greek City Times for Free on Google News
Click NOW
Stay updated with the latest news from Greece and around the world on greekcitytimes.com.
Contact our newsroom to share your updates, stories, photos, or videos. Follow GCT on WhatsApp, Google News and Apple News.

Related coverage

Advertising