Lemon Rice

Lemon rice is one of the most comfort staple food of South india. It has a flavour of fresh Lemon juice along with the aroma of few tempering ingredients like mustard seeds, dried red chillies, curry leaves, lentils, ginger and green chillies. Lemon adds the tangy and refreshing flavor to this rice dish. It is super easy wholesome meal which is prepared in very less time. You can even use the left over rice instead of making fresh cooked rice for this recipe. So lets learn how to make this quick and flavorful dish.

Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 10 mins
Servings: 4

Ingredients needed: ( For Cooking Plain rice)
1.) Any variety of rice - 2 cup ( I have used Basmati long grain rice)
2.) Water - 2 cups
3.) Oil- 2 tsp
4.) Salt - 1/2 tsp

For Tempering:
1.) Fresh Curry leaves - 8-10
2.) Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
3.) Chana dal - 2 tbsp pre soaked in water for 15-20 mins
4.) Unsalted Peanuts - 1/4 cup
5.) Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
6.) Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
7.) Red dried whole chilli - 2
8.) Asafoetida (hing) - a pinch
9.) Oil - 2 tbsp
10.) Green chillis - 2 finely chopped
11.) Salt - as per taste
12.) Cumin seeds(Jeera)- 1 tsp
13.) Lemon juice - Fresh juice of 2 lemons

14.) Urad Dal - 2 tbsp also pre soaked in water for 15-20 mins

15.) Ginger - 1/2 inch piece finely chopped

Method of Cooking Plain Rice :

Note : Here I have cooked plain rice which took me additional 40 mins that includes soaking and cooking of rice. I prefer making lemon rice from freshly cooked rice, you can use left over rice instead of cooking fresh and use in the recipe.
1.) Wash the rice in water several times untill water appears to be clear.
2.) Soak the rice in water for about 25 mins ( soaking the rice before cooking makes it fluffy).
3.) Drain the rice & place it in a pot filled with water. Add 1/2 tsp of salt & few drops of oil, so that rice will not stick to each other.
4.) Bring it to a boil, then reduce the flame and cover it with lid.
5.) Cook it for 15 mins and once all the water is evaporated, turn off the flame. Set it aside and let it cool. Cooked rice should be grainy and not mushy so don't overcook it.

Method for Tempering:

1.) Heat the oil in a pan and add mustard seeds followed by cumin seeds, once it crackles add curry leaves, chopped green chillies and ginger to it. Saute it for 2-3 mins.

2.) Now add peanuts, roast it for few mins until crunchy and deep golden. Now add dried red chillies, hing, Urad dal and chana dal. Stir it continously on low flame to avoid burning.

3.) Transfer the tempering in a large pot/ kadhai add cooked rice and spices like turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt over the rice. Mix it well on low flame and then remove it from the stove.

4.) Squeeze fresh Lemon juice and pour it over the rice. Adjust the salt by tasting it and give it a good stir.

5.) Serve hot flavorful lemon rice with raita. Enjoy 😊.

Thank you for reading. Enjoy more recipes on my blog and please comment below each recipes for feedback/suggestions. Till then happy cooking 😊.