Lemon Rice is a popular dish of south India. It is very quick and simple dish to prepare. The peanuts and dal add a bite and lemon juice imparts the tanginess to the dish.
Lemon Rice is often given as prasadum in the temples, served during feasts and gatherings and even made to be packed in the tiffin box for lunch. I love to eat lemon rice with poppadums and spiced Masala Chaas (moru/ butter milk).
In Karnataka it is called as Chitranna where it has become a part of the daily diet and is prepared by mixing cooked rice with a special seasoning called Oggarane or Gojju. You may also check our Tindora Rice, Curd Rice, Bisi Bele Bath, Tomato Upma and Oats Idly.
Yield: 2 to 3 serving
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Ingredients for Lemon Rice
1 cup rice
1 green chilli slit
1 teaspoon ginger chopped fine
1 tablespoon coriander chopped fine
1 tablespoon curry leaves
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon lemon jest (optional)
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon jeera (cumin)
1 red dry chilli broken
1 tablespoon chana dal
1 tablespoon split urad dal
2 tablespoon peanuts
2 tablespoon cashew halved
1/4 teaspoon haldi (turmeric)
1 teaspoon sugar
A pinch of hing
Salt to taste
Directions
- Cook the rice with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Spread it on a plate to cool.
- Heat oil in a pan or Kadai; add mustard, red chilli, green chilli, chana dal and urad dal. Stir till the dal colour starts to change a little.
- Add the peanuts, cashew, jeera and hing. Stir till cashew changes colour.
- Now add ginger, curry leaves and mix.
- Add haldi, salt, sugar and mix.
- Add lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Now add the rice and coriander and toss well.
- Cover and cook it on a very low heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Serve it along with Masala Chaach.
