Korma is a popular dish in India and Pakistan using vegetables or lamb. Tomato Korma is a sauce with a licorice flavor and cooked with garam masala spices like peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom and thickened with poppy seeds. Nutritious tomatoes make a delicious sauce when blended with ground korma spices.

Growing Tomatoes : Tomatoes need 6-8 hours of sun to bring out their flavors. To keep them off the ground you will need stakes, cage or trellis most plants. Decide on a support plan before planting and add them after. For a strong tomato plant bury 2/3 rds of the stem. Give each plant enough room to grow. They grow long roots ; hence it is important to water deeply. They absorb nutrients when the soil pH ranges from 6.2-6.8. Fertilize the soil with miracle grow and compost.
https://bonnieplants.com/how-to-grow/growing-tomatoes/

Story: Korma is a favorite sauce eaten with rice pilaf or Biryani served at birthday parties, wedding feasts, or restaurants and cooked with cauliflower, peas, beans and tomatoes. Pooris and Navratan Korma, Parathas and cauliflower Korma, or Rice Pilaf and tomato Korma are some restaurant gourmet foods from the menu to enjoy.

Nutrition Facts of Tomato
(Lycopersicum Esculentum) 100g raw

GI 15 ; GL =2; Water=170.14 g Minerals Vitamins
Energy 18 k cal – 1% Sodium 5 mg >1% Folates 15 mcg – 4%
Carb. 3.9g – 3% Potassium 237mg – 5% Niacin 0.594mg – 4%
Protein 0.9 g – 1.6% Calcium 10mg – 1% Pyridoxine 0.08mg – 6%
Total Fat 0.2g – 07% Magnesium 11mg – 3% Thiamin 0.037mg – 3%
Cholesterol 0mg – 0% Manganese 0.15mg – 6.5% Vitamin A 833IU – 28%
Dietary Fiber 1.2g – 3% Phosphorous 24mg – 3% Vitamin C 13mg – 21.5%
Phytonutrients Zinc 0.17mg – 1.5% Vitamin E 0.54mg – 4%
Alpha Carotene 101 mcg Lutein zea- xanthin123 mcg Vitamin K 7.9mcg-6.5%
Beta Carotene 449mcg Lycopene 2573mcg
Cherry tomato, red, ripe, raw, Nutrition value per 100 g. (Source: USDA National Nutrient database)

Health Benefits of Tomatoes

  • Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C that prevents urinary tract infections and gallstone formation.
  • Potassium found in tomatoes acts as vasodilator, reducing hypertension in blood vessels and arteries thereby increasing circulation and lowering blood pressure.
  • Tomatoes help manage diabetes: daily consumption of tomatoes reduces the oxidative stress of type 2 diabetes
  • Tomatoes help Improve vision: Vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant present in tomatoes as Beta Carotene, (excess gets converted to vitamin A), can prevent night blindness, macular degeneration and help improve vision.

Spice Power

  • Anise seeds: grow from the flowering plant known as “Pimpinella anisum”, which tastes just like licorice. Anise seeds help with delay in the progress of cataracts, relief from PMS, and asthma symptoms, improved metabolic and digestive function, weight loss, skincare, etc. besides having expectorant and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Poppy seeds have analgesic properties. They contain opioids in small quantities like morphine and codeine that relieve all kinds of pains and aches effectively. They promote vision health with the presence of antioxidants that protect the eyes and zinc that prevents macular degeneration. 
  • Cinnamon stabilizes blood sugar: It can help block the activity of several enzymes to slow the absorption of sugar in the blood after a high carb meal with supplements of cinnamon extract.
  • Cloves: can prevent stomach ulcers by stimulating the production of mucus in the stomach which can prevent the thinning of the stomach lining.
  • Cardamom: aids in improving blood circulation: the spice extract used in aromatherapy was found to have components that may improve blood circulation and protect the blood from clogging vessels and leading to problems such as heart attack and stroke.
  • Peppercorns: scientifically known as (Piper nigrum ) may aid in digestion by helping the body secrete more hydrochloric acid. Improve bone health: being a good source of vitamin K, it functions in retaining calcium in the bone matrix. Sufficient vitamin K in the body may also reduce urinary excretion of calcium. 1 tbsp. peppercorn contains 13% of RDA of vitamin K.

Method to cook Tomato Korma

  • Blanch tomatoes; (leave tomatoes in boiling water, untill skin splits. (4 min.)
  • Peel skin and puree tomatoes in a blender. (2 min.)
  • Dry roast spices in a hot griddle; soak in 1/2 cup water. (2 min.)
  • Peel and finely chop the onion.
  • Heat 1tbsp. oil, add onions, and sauté until translucent. (3 min.)
  • Grind onion and soaked spices into a smooth paste in a blender. (2 min.)
  • Heat remaining oil in a frying pan; add korma paste & pour in tomatoes.
  • Add salt, turmeric, mix well; simmer korma sauce until thick. (3 min.)
  • Garnish with washed and chopped cilantro/curry/rosemary leaves.

Serve Tomato Korma with Rice pilaf, Quinoa, Pooris, or Parathas.

TIPS
To save time Substitute fresh tomatoes with canned ones
Substitute garam masala powder with whole spices
Grind 2 tsp. cashew nuts with korma spices for a creamier sauce