If you are looking for the perfect dish, then you have got something that is delicious, colorful, and flavorful. We’ll be discussing the lemon rice recipe today, a traditional South Indian cuisine that has been tempting lips and palates for ages. The resulting dish is a great blend of aromatic spices, precisely cooked rice, and zesty lemon, making it a versatile addition to the plate. The following lemon rice recipe would taste beautiful as a summertime main course, a light food, or a refreshing side meal.
Table of Contents
About Lemon Rice Recipe
Lemon rice, which comes by the names “Chitranna” in Kannada and “Nimmakaya Pulihora” in Telugu, is a famous South Indian dish that is admired for its aromatic simplicity. This nourished meal, which has its origins in South Indian households, reflects the spirit of the region’s cuisine with its easy yet delicious recipe.
The basic ingredients of the lemon rice recipe include cooked rice, lime juice, turmeric, and a seasoning tadka of flavorful spices and pulses. This tempering gives the rice a bright yellow color and an acidic, intensely spicy aroma. The process additionally adds curry leaves, mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal, dried red chilies, and peanuts or cashews for additional crunch.
Lemon rice is popular for its versatility and short practice using primary elements. Ideal for hot summer days, it’s light, clean, and easy to digest. Often prepared all through fairs and special events, it symbolizes prosperity and pleasure and is commonly supplied in temples as prasad (blessed meals). This dish is a lovely culinary delight, ideal for both seasoned cooks and beginners.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup basmati rice or any long-grain rice
- 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or coconut oil)
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon urad dal (split black gram)
- 1 teaspoon chana dal (split chickpeas)
- 2-3 dried red chilies
- 1-2 green chilies, chopped (optional, for extra heat)
- A pinch of asafetida (Hing)
- 10-12 curry leaves
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/4 cup peanuts or cashews
- Juice of 1-2 lemons (adjust according to taste)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Cook the rice:
- Use cold water to rinse a cup of rice until the water becomes clear.
- In two cups of water, cook the rice until it’s firm but not mushy. For this, you can also use an instant pot or rice cooker.
- After cooking, take a fork to fluff the rice and put it on a large dish or a tray to cool it. This makes it easier to maintain grain separation.
- Prepare the Tempering (Tadka):
- Take two heaping tablespoons of oil and heat it over medium heat in a pan.
- Add the mustard seeds (1 teaspoon) and let them crackle.
- Add a teaspoon for both chana dal and urad dal. Fry to achieve a golden brown color.
- Add 2 to 3 dried red chilies and cook for another second.
- Put in a handful pinch of asafoetida (hing) and 10 to 12 curry leaves. For a few seconds, stir-fry.
- Add 1/4 cup of cashews or peanuts and sauté until they get crispy and golden.
- After adding 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder, quickly sauté.
- Combine the Rice and tempering:
- Add the cooked and cooled rice to the pan with the tempering.
- Gently mix everything together so that the rice is well coated with the tempering and turmeric. Be careful not to break the rice grains.
- Add salt to taste, and mix well.
- Add lemon juice:
- Turn off the heat and add the juice of 1-2 lemons. Adjust the lemon juice according to your taste preferences.
- Mix well to ensure the lemon juice is evenly distributed.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Garnish with chopped, fresh coriander leaves.
- Serve the lemon rice warm or at room temperature. It pairs well with raita, papad, or a simple vegetable curry.
How to Make the Most Delicious Lemon Rice Recipe
- Rice Texture: Check to see that the rice is cooked through without being overcooked. Once prepared, transferring the rice to a plate helps with grain separation.
- Lemon Juice: Depending on your taste, reduce or modify the amount. lemon juice that is freshly squeezed has the most significant flavor.
- Tempering: Take care to temper all things. This recipe acquires a lot of flavor through the combination of mustard seeds, lentils, and curry leaves together.
Health Benefits
Along with being delightfully tasty, lemon rice offers plenty of health benefits:
- Loaded in antioxidants: Another one of the main antioxidants present in lemons is vitamin C.
- Digestion Support: Asafetida (Hing) and the juice of lemons might help in digestion as well.
- Nutrient-Dense: The grains and spices used to temper this dish give essential vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Variations for Lemon Rice Recipe
You may modify lemon rice to your preference according to your taste while having variations like:
- Adding sautéed veggies, like bell peppers, carrots, and peas, to your cooked vegetable lemon rice.
- While adding some grated coconut lemon rice, it may enhance additional flavor to this lemon rice.
- For some additional spices and flavors, increase a dash of green chilies or just add a pinch of red chili powder to your lemon rice to make it spicy.
FAQs
Q: Is it possible to make lemon rice using leftover rice?
A: This particular dish is great to make with leftover rice. It helps speed up the cooking process and helps keep the grains separate.
Q: How long is the duration of storage of lemon rice?
A: Some of you can keep lemon rice in the fridge for as long as two days. Before serving, slightly heat it.
Q: Is there any gluten in lemon rice?
A: Lemon rice is naturally free of gluten. Asafetida (Hing) contains wheat, so make sure that whatever brand you select is gluten-free.
Nutritional Value of Lemon Rice
A serving of lemon rice (approximately 1 cup) provides:
| Calories: | 200 |
| Carbohydrates: | 30g |
| Protein: | 5g |
| Vitamin C: | 15 mg |
| Fat: | 8g |
| Fiber: | 3g |
Conclusion
This amazing and delicious lemon rice recipe will bring together the zestiness of lemon along with the aromatic flavors of South Indian spices in lemon rice. This lemon rice recipe will satisfy your cravings for immediate food or an appetizer to go with your curry. Give it an attempt, and permit the zesty flavors to brighten your day!
For more scrumptious recipes, take a look at our pesarattu recipe and Ritz crackers hen recipe on Chef’s Home. Happy cooking!
