Tomatoes are an indispensable part of Indian cooking. From soul-warming curries to mouth-watering chutneys, they bring tang and richness to just about any dish. But washing, chopping, blanching, pureeing, or cooking tomatoes every time we need to prepare a dish can become an incessant chore. Want something quicker but equally powerful? Dried tomato powder, also known as Tamatar Powder in Hindi, is a convenient way to infuse any preparations with the bright flavour of tomatoes.
At Zilli’s, our Tomato Powder is made from fresh and ripe tomatoes that have been spray-dried into a fine powdered form. It is every bit flavourful and one of the most versatile and convenient seasonings you can bring to your kitchen.
Curious to know how you can use tomato powder in Indian cuisine? Keep reading!
#1: Tomato Powder for Indian Gravies and Curries:
Using tomato powder in Indian curries and gravies like Aloo Methi Curry, Matar Paneer, or Chilli Paneer can be a game-changer in your kitchen. Just a spoonful of tomato powder will bring out a tangy, tomatoey flavour with a beautiful scarlet colour. Use it to prepare tomato powder spice blends for recipes like Butter Chicken, Pav Bhaji, Sabzis, and Aloo Chole in advance for a quick flavour boost.
Or you can also get tomato powder for Indian seafood recipes like Goan Fish Curry, Chettinad Fish Curry, Fish Fry, Coconut Prawn Curry, Chilli Prawns, Prawns Pulao, and more, filling every bite with rich and tantalizing flavours.
#2: Tomato Powder in Soups:
Sometimes, your soup broth or even your dal feels it is missing something. Adding tomato powder to Indian soups and lentils will do just the trick, giving them a well-rounded taste.
You can make tomato soup at home in 10 minutes from scratch. Combine organic tomato powder, Red Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, salt, pepper, oregano, chilli flakes, and vegetable stock (or water + vegetable stock cubes). Bring to a boil, simmer for 10 minutes, and serve hot. Like your soups on the creamier side? Add ½ cup of fresh cream, simmer for 3-4 minutes, and enjoy.
#3: Tomato Powder in Marinades and Seasonings:
Love some zesty bite in your chicken or seafood? Make exciting tamarind powder marinades for Indian meats. Mix tomato powder with your favourite marinade or dry rub ingredients, use it for seasoning, and roast away. Yum!
Tomato powder tandoori preparations can add a killer kick of tang to your favourite tandoori dishes. Combine tomato powder with Lemon Powder, yoghurt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, salt, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala, black pepper, coriander powder, and kasuri methi. Coat your chicken, paneer, tofu, or vegetables and let them marinate for 2-3 hours before cooking.
#4: Tomato Powder for Sauces:
Tomato powder works like magic in homemade pizzas, pasta sauces, salsa, and barbeque sauces. If you’re making pizza at home, check out our tawa pizza recipe for a quick, easy, and delicious way to make pizza sauce using tomato powder.
#5: Tomato Powder for Indian Chutneys, Pickles, and Condiments:
You cannot deny that tomatoes add life to chutneys. You can use tomato powder in desi chutneys and pickles, including Bengali Tomato Khejur Chutney, Momos chutney, Andhra-Style Pachadi, Khatti Meethi Chutney, and Curry Leaves Dahi Chutney, among others.
You can also make delicious Tomato Thokku using Tomato Powder, Tamarind Powder, Wood-Pressed Sesame Oil and other spices. Tomato powder chutneys and pickles go well with Indian street food like pakoras, tikkis, kebabs, and fritters, and South Indian delicacies like Idli, Dosa, Uttapam, etc.
#6: Tomato Powder for Dosa and Idli Recipes:
Fan of South Indian deliciousness? Don’t miss out on the magic that tomato powder can bring to your dosa and idli recipes with a tangy twist. Use tomato powder for cooking our mildly spiced and colourful Tomato Rava Dosa and flavour your Upma with a touch of tartness.
#7: Tomato Powder for Sambar and Rasam:
A hearty bowl of Sambar can easily make a good day better. Dink your Idlis in it, sip on it straight, or eat with rice – it’s wholesome and soothing regardless. Tomato Powder can elevate the flavours of your Sambar to newer heights. Or when you’re preparing Rasam at home, tamarind powder and tomato powder can make your work a lot easier and contribute immensely to its medley of flavours.
#8: Tomato Powder Rice Dishes:
We, Indians, cannot live without rice. It comes in many forms, from aromatic pulao to indulgent biryani and humble curd rice to heart-warming khichdi. If you want to switch things up from your usual rice routine, tomato powder recipes with rice are just the flavour bomb you need. Prepare tangy tomato-flavoured biryanis and pulao, sprinkle over curd rice, enrich your khichdi, or make special South Indian tomato rice without the need to chop and cook tomatoes.
#9: Tomato Powder for Indian Vegetable Dishes:
Tomato Powder can also be a star ingredient in vegetarian delights, including classics like Aloo Gobi, Bhindi, Pav Bhaji, Dal Makhani, etc. Fancy some paneer instead? You can use tomato powder for paneer dishes of all kinds, ranging from wholesome meals like Palak Paneer and Matar Paneer to side dishes like Paneer Capsicum Stir-Fry and Paneer Tikka Masala.
#10: Tomato Powder Breads and Flatbreads:
The tangy tomato powder flavour is perfect for a variety of savoury bread and flatbread recipes. Tomato powder’s dehydrated and powdered form gives it an edge in baked recipes, allowing you to infuse flavour without changing dough consistency or adding moisture.
Add it to garlic bread, focaccia, bagels, Panera tomato basil bread, tomato garlic naan, tomato paratha, moong dal chilla, cheesy breadsticks, and more. You can also incorporate tomato powder into your coating or breading mixture for added crunch and flavour to your chicken, paneer, tofu, or other fried or baked meat and veggies.
#11: Tomato Powder Seasoning for Snacks and Salads:
Tomato powder’s culinary uses are endless – it’s all about how much you love to experiment with flavours. It works as a fantastic garnish for snacks, salads, side dishes, and more. Sprinkle it on your omelettes and fried, boiled, or scrambled eggs for a delectable touch. Or toss it into your veggie or chicken salad for a change of flavour.
Enjoy sandwiches? Mix it with mayonnaise or softened cream cheese for a zesty and creamy sandwich spread. Whisk it into your hummus to switch things up. It’s magical when sprinkled over popcorn, sweet corn, pasta, noodles, French fries, and spiced BBQ pineapples. Don’t take our word – try it yourself!
#12: Tomato Powder in Juices and Beverages:
If you know your juices and mocktails, you love the tangy burst of flavour that tomato can bring to every sip. Make your own tomato juice by mixing 2 tbsp of tomato powder with one glass of water, ¼ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp onion powder, black pepper, and salt. You can also blend tomato powder in smoothies and juices like carrot smoothies, beetroot smoothies, and celery smoothies for a tasty health boost.
Enjoy your evening with a vibrant and thirst-quenching virgin Bloody Mary mocktail flavoured with tomato powder and other spices. Love to experiment? Try out tomato powder spiced buttermilk (chaas) as a refreshing complementary drink with your meals.
Have Fun with Zilli’s Tomato Powder in your Cooking Adventures!
There’s no denying that tomato powder’s uses are plenty. It’s super versatile, highly convenient, and easy to cook with. Now, you can finally stop relying on readymade tomato paste filled with preservatives or worrying about boiling, chopping, blending, or cooking raw tomatoes. The sweet, savoury, and tarty flavour of Zilli’s tomato powder makes it a fantastic addition to your pantry.
If you’ve got any other tomato powder Indian recipes, we’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!