Ever tried lemon rice? Keralas lemon rice recipe is a great way to liven up your plain rice and it's the perfect accompaniment to a curry!



Rice is an ingredient with endless possibilities. We often see it relegated to the side of the plate. However, the preparation of rice is an art form. Studded with spices, herbs, fruit and nuts, Indian rice is found at most meals, often taking centre stage at the table.

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Rice eating habits:

People in most Asian countries, rice is considered their main dish, while in western countries it is used as a side-dish. In Asian countries, basic steamed rice is served with some curry or dal and some side-dish. It is also used to prepare many variety rice dishes in which cooked rice is seasoned and flavoured with lemon, tomato, tamarind, curd or coconut. 

Lemon rice - Rice is an ingredient with endless possibilities. The preparation of rice is an art form.
Lemon rice

There are many varieties of rice available which varies in size, colour and texture. There is white, brown, red and black rice that has different nutritional benefits. 

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How to make a fluffy rice:

Do you want all the grains to be separated and your rice to be light and fluffy? There are a few ways to get this result. The most basic way to do it is to take your rice grains and soak them in cold water for about an hour, then rinse the rice several times. What that does is it takes off the excess starch. The less starch you have, the less sticky the rice will be when it’s finished cooking. Second method is to put a generous amount of cooking fat in it — it could be ghee (melted butter), cooking oil or coconut oil, whatever you like to use.

Lemon rice - Rice is an ingredient with endless possibilities. The preparation of rice is an art form.

LEMON RICE – Instructions to prepare.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients for Lemon rice:

  • Rice (I used basmati rice here)- 1 cup
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • water – 1 3/4 cup
  • teaspoon salt – to taste

For Seasoning:

  • Oil – 2 tablespoons
  • cumin seed – 1/2 teaspoon
  • mustard seed – 1/2 teaspoon
  • turmeric – 1/2 teaspoon
  • 2 red whole red chili
  • 1 green chili sliced in long way
  • curry leaves – 2/3 sprigs
  • 2 tablespoons chana dal (split Bengal gram), pre-soaked in water for at
  • least half an hour
  • 1/4 cup unsalted roasted peanuts
  • salt to taste
  • lemon juice –  1/4 cup
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Method to cook Lemon rice

  1. Wash rice gently changing water several times until the water appears clear.
  2. For fluffier rice, the rice should be soaked for at least 15 minutes prior to cooking.
  3. Drain the rice and put it into the saucepan.
  4. Add water, oil, and salt, and bring to a boil.
  5. Once the water is boiling reduce the heat to low and cover the pan.
  6. Cook about 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has evaporated.
  7. Turn off the heat and fluff the rice with a fork.

For Seasoning:

  1. Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat; stir-fry the peanuts for about 2 minutes until peanuts changes the colour to light brown.
  2. Take out the peanuts from oil and use the same oil for rest of the seasoning.
  3. Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds after seeds crack add red chili, curry leaves, and green chilies, and stir for a few seconds.
  4. Mix the chana dal (split Bengal gram), stir-fry for about a minute.
  5. Add turmeric and mix it well.
  6. Put the pre-cooked rice, peanuts and sprinkle salt and lemon juice over the rice.
  7.  Mix gently, making sure do not break the rice and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.
  8. Lemon rice is ready!!
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More similar recipes:

  1. Indo Chinese fried rice
  2. Pea and mint risotto
  3. How to make ghee rice
  4. Curd rice recipe
  5. Seafood spaghetti
  6. Tortellini makhani sauce
I would like to hear from you, please feel free to share your feedback in the comments.
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Regards,
Sumith.
 
Lemon rice - Rice is an ingredient with endless possibilities. The preparation of rice is an art form.
Lemon rice
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Lemon rice recipe
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Lemon rice

Ever tried lemon rice? Keralas lemon rice recipe is a great way to liven up your plain rice and it's the perfect accompaniment to a curry!



Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian, kerala cuisine, South Indian
Keyword lemon rice
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 381kcal
Author Sumith Babu

Ingredients

Ingredients for lemon rice

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 3/4 cup water
  • salt to taste

For seasoning

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1/2 tsp mustard seeds
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 whole red chilli split into two
  • 1 green chilli split
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • 2 tbsp chana dal split bengal gram(soaked in water for 1/2 an hour)
  • 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • salt to taste

Instructions

Instructions to cook lemon rice

  • Wash rice gently. 



  • Soak the rice for 20 minutes



  • Drain the rice and put it into the saucepan.



  • Add water, oil, and salt, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling reduce the heat to low and cover the pan.



  • Cook about 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the water has evaporated. Turn off the heat and fluff the rice with a fork.



For seasoning

  • Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat; stir-fry the peanuts for about 2 minutes until peanuts changes the colour to light brown. Take out the peanuts from oil and use the same oil for rest of the seasoning.


  • Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds after seeds crack add red chili, curry leaves, and green chilies, and stir for a few seconds. Add the chana dal (split Bengal gram), stir-fry for about a minute.


  • Add turmeric and mix it well. Add the pre-cooked rice, peanuts and sprinkle salt and lemon juice over the rice.


  •  Mix gently, making sure do not break the rice and stir-fry for about 2 minutes. Lemon rice is ready!!


Nutrition

Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 86mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Vitamin E: 1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg