Lemon rice always reminds me of train rides. I am sure some of you associate the two as well because in most cases, whenever we go on an overnight train journey, a small bundle of lemon rice wrapped in wilted banana leaf will be handed over to everyone. We have always had lemon rice with chuttaracha chammanthi, thick coconut chutney ground with smoked red chillies, and curd or raita.
For more authentic South Indian rice recipes, check out this puliogare recipe, thengai sadam (coconut rice), ellu sadam (sesame rice), and carrot rice recipe, an easy lunchbox dish perfect to make a day ahead too.
I also have another distinct memory associated with lemon rice. One of eating it at a temple when I was very little. I forgot where or when but that was probably the best lemon rice I have ever tasted. It’s been ages since I have eaten from a temple but if I see it when I pass by, I am grabbing some!
For more authentic South Indian rice recipes, check out this puliogare recipe, thengai sadam (coconut rice), ellu sadam (sesame rice), and carrot rice recipe, an easy lunchbox dish perfect to make a day ahead too.
On to the Lemon Rice Recipe now.
Lemon Rice
Serves: 2-3
Preparation time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
4 cups cooked rice (leftovers work perfect)
3 tbsp raw peanuts
3/4 tsp turmeric powder
2-3 tbsp juice of lemon or lime
Salt to taste
For tempering:
2 tbsp gingelly oil / nallennai / sesame seed oil (Indian version)
2-3 red chillies torn into halves
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp chana dal / kadala paruppu
A generous pinch of hing / asafoetida / perungaayam
A few curry leaves
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing (optional)
How to Make Lemon Rice:
1. Heat oil for tempering in a pan and add the peanuts. Roast until nicely browned. Drain and set aside.
2. To the hot oil, add the ingredients for tempering. Take care not to burn the chillies. When the mustard seeds start to pop and the dal has turned a golden brown, add the turmeric powder and salt. Now add peanuts, mix well and remove from fire.
3. Add cooked rice to the above mixture and mix well. Squeeze lime on the rice and mix again. Depending on the lime / lemon you use, the sourness will vary. Make sure you make it slightly more sour than you need it because when you let it sit for an hour or two, the rice will absorb the flavours.
Notes:
– Lemon rice is fantastic to carry with you on a trip. Wrap in banana leaves or pack it in your throwaway containers with some chuttaracha chammanthi and you are set!
– The lemon rice tastes just fine when it turns cold but if serving at home, serve warm.
Love the look of that lemon rice! 🙂
I’m just back from a small weekend trip to Mysore and had lemon rice there that was prepared by my granny.Her recipe was very similar to yours. Love the peanuts in it.
Great pictures nags..
Oh wow awesome presentation…..I love the sour taste of lemon in rice…Looks droolworthy….
woww..its looking superb…perfect in color..and i just loved the presentation Nags…that serving vessel is superb…i hav to get one like that.. 🙂
I had never had lemon rice untill i made them few days back and i loved it.
I love your brighter colour in the rice, not thinking aobut the rice i am getting hungry.
Hi Naga, whenever I make lemon rice at home, R always says they used to pack it on their annual train journey during vacation. And yes, I always make this with leftover rice, same recipe:D I used to go to the Hanuman temple in Motinagar where they served lemon rice on Saturdays, I looked forward to it:-) In Singapore, the Murugan temple in Jurong also served a very nice rice variety for prasad. I so wanted to send this in for the event, but now I will post something else:-)
yes, the peanuts are what attract me to lemon rice too 🙂
He hee,I was about to ask you “Don’t you fell in love with those bowls,u did presented the same for past two posts..:D”
Indeed it makes the Lemon rice looking divine! Bright color u hav got!
I remember the same trips,where ever we go,my mom used to prepare like this and also tamarind rice and curd rice with same coconut thogayal,which u call it as chuttaracha chammanthi!!
Will try sending in some entries for the event soon!
Shreya – do send me your version if you can’t think of anything else to make 🙂
Lena – These are coconut shell bowls I picked up from Bali. Honestly, I think its the lemon rice that’s making them look good cuz the last two recipes I posted were also clicked in the same bowl and you didn’t notice, did you? 😀