Tomato Rus Chawal: A Parsi Family Favorite from a Customized Cookbook

In the rich tapestry of Parsi cuisine—where Persian flavors mingle with Indian spices—few dishes capture the soul of a family kitchen like Tomato Rus Chawal. This comforting, tomato-based stew is more than just a meal; it’s a connection to heritage, memories, and generations of home cooks.
Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or returning to a childhood favorite, this dish is a delicious reminder of how a customized cookbook can preserve the tastes that define a family.

What Makes Tomato Rus Chawal Special?

Tomato Rus Chawal is a staple in many Parsi homes. It’s hearty, flavorful, and deeply comforting – typically made with tender lamb or chicken, potatoes, and a warm blend of spices. The base is a silky tomato puree, gently simmered with browned onions, ginger-garlic paste, and a pinch of nostalgia.

The dish is traditionally served over plain white rice, soaking up the spiced rus (gravy) and offering a complete one-plate meal that warms you from the inside out.

Preserving Heritage in a Customized Cookbook

This treasured recipe lives on in Jaya’s customized cookbook—a lovingly created family heirloom filled with recipes, memories, and personal stories. From handwritten notes to photos and anecdotes, Jaya’s cookbook goes beyond instructions; it captures the soul of her family’s culinary heritage.

By curating a customized cookbook, Jaya ensures that beloved dishes like Tomato Rus Chawal aren’t just remembered – they’re revived in kitchens across generations.

Tomato Rus Chawal Recipe

A traditional Parsi stew with tomatoes, spices, and love – straight from a customized cookbook.

Serves: 4–6

Ingredients:

5 ripe tomatoes
1 big onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp oil
½ kg (1 pound) lamb or chicken cubes
2 tablespoons flour
2 green chilies, slit
2 potatoes, cut into cubes
1 tsp whole spices (cardamom, cloves, cinnamon)
½ tsp ginger garlic paste
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Cook the meat: Start by cooking lamb or chicken cubes with ginger-garlic paste, salt, and pepper. Save the cooked meat and its stock.
Prep the tomatoes: Soak tomatoes in hot water for 15 minutes, peel the skins, and blend into a smooth puree.
Sauté onions: Lightly brown the sliced onions in oil, then stir in the flour over low heat to form a thickened base.
Add vegetables and spices: Add the potato cubes, then slowly pour in the meat stock. Stir in green chilies and whole spices.
Simmer: Let everything cook gently on low heat until the potatoes are nearly tender.
Add tomatoes: Stir in the blended tomato puree and more stock if needed. Cover and simmer for 5–7 minutes until the flavors are fully developed.

Serve with: Steamed white rice and a side of family stories.

Why Every Family Needs a Customized Cookbook

As Jaya’s story shows, a customized cookbook is more than a place to store recipes – it’s a way to honor family history and celebrate the people who made your table feel like home. Each dish, like Tomato Rus Chawal, tells a story. When those stories are preserved in a personalized cookbook, they become timeless.

If you’re searching for a meaningful gift or a way to capture your family’s culinary legacy, a customized cookbook may be the most heartfelt thing you ever create. It’s a gift your children – and theirs – will cherish for decades to come.