Chits Kitchen

Lemon Rice is a traditional South Indian Rice recipe prepared from boiled rice mixed with some spices, lemon and dry fruits. It is the most common rice dish in South India. It can be prepared from fresh boiled rice or with rice leftover after you finish your meal. Lemon adds sourness to the rice and peanuts adds crunchiness. It is prepared in the same way as Chinese fried rice. There is only a slight difference of spices used in Lemon Rice. It can be served as a light breakfast and is healthy too. I mostly prepare Lemon Rice if I am left with some rice after having my meal. Rice can be pressure cooked in a pressure cooker or can be cooked in an open pot. Cooking the rice in an open pot keeps the grains separate. So you can prefer to cook in an open pot. It takes very less time and is delicious. It can be served with Curd, Raita, Pickle, Chutney or Kosambari.

For other Rice Recipes, please visit:

Matar Pulao

Jeera Rice

Schezwan Fried Rice

Methi Fried Rice

Yellow Fried Rice

Veg Biryani

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Lemon Rice/South Indian Lemon Rice

Lemon Rice is a traditional South Indian Rice recipe prepared from boiled rice mixed with some spices, lemon and dry fruits. It can be prepared from fresh boiled rice or with rice leftover after you finish your meal.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian, South Indian

Keyword Lemon Rice

Preparation Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Passive Time 2 minutes minutes

Total Time 27 minutes minutes

Servings 3 servings

Calories

Author Recipe by Chits

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cup Raw Rice (or Cooked Rice: 4 cups)
• 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1 teaspoon Urad Dal
• 2 teaspoon Chana Dal
• 2 piece Chopped Green Chillies
• 2 piece Dry Red Chillies
• 1 teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 10-12 leaves Curry Leaves
• 1/4 cup Peanuts
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1 tablespoon Grated Ginger (Optional)
• 1 tablespoon Chopped Cashews (Kaaju)
• A pinch Hing (Asafoetida)
• 2 teaspoon Chopped Coriander
• 2 tablespoon Cooking Oil
• Salt as per taste

Instructions:

• Take the rice and wash it. Soak the rice in water for 20 minutes.
• Cook the rice with 2 ½ cup water over a medium flame for two whistles. Switch off the flame and allow the cooker to cool down itself.
• Open the lid and take out the cooked rice in a bowl. The rice should be cooked few hours before preparing the Lemon Rice.
• Heat 1 tablespoon Oil in a pan over medium flame. Add the Peanuts and Cashews. Roast them till they are light golden brown. Remove them in a different plate.
• Now in the same pan heat the remaining oil. Add the mustard seeds and allow it to crackle.
• Then add Hing, Urad Dal and Chana Dal. Saute till they are light golden brown. It should be fried in low flame so that they don’t burn.
• Then add Red Chilies, Green Chilies, Grated Ginger and Curry Leaves. Saute them for few seconds.
• Then add Turmeric Powder and Salt. Mix them.
• Add the steamed rice, fried Peanuts and Cashews. Mix them well.
• Finally add Lemon Juice and mix it properly so that the taste of the lemon is evenly spread. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
• Switch off the stove and transfer the Lemon Rice to a serving Bowl.
  
• Serve the Lemon Rice by garnishing with Coriander Leaves. This is optional. Serve it with Curd, Raita, Pickle, Chutney or Kosambari.
  

Notes:

1. Rice is prepared few hours before preparing lemon rice. This is done so that the rice grains are easily separated.
2. After switching off the stove, allow the pressure of the cooker to come down automatically.
3. Quantity of Lemon Juice should be adjusted as per one’s taste.
4. This recipe can be prepared with left over rice also. It will save time.
5. While cooking we must keep in mind that ginger doesn’t burn or else it will make the lemon rice taste bitter.