Lemon Rice

 Lemon Rice

Lemon Rice is very delicious and easy to make. This south Indian rice is so healthy and tasty. It has delicate flavors of fresh lemon juice and nutty aroma of the tempered ingredients. It is also called Chitran. If you love to cook for yourself then this is one of the best South Indian recipes to begin with. even you don't need anything on the side with this lemon rice since it tastes good on its own. It is tangy, crunchy, easy to make and flavorful dish.

Many people make lemon rice with leftover rice, but I always use fresh cooked rice. Lemon rice is the best option to make when you are in a hurry, as you can make it using leftover rice if you don't have time to cook fresh rice. It is quick, hassle free, and also makes a great to be served in lunch box. In fact, when you have left over rice the cook time is reduce even further and you can make this dish in 10 mins. But I prefer to cook fresh rice for this this. This is the perfect summer dish 

Some people skip turmeric powder, but it gives this rice a beautiful golden color. the rice grains need to be fluffy and soggy rice does not work for this recipe. Typically, this recipe is made with short-grain rice, but I used basmati rice for this recipe. 

The lemon rice recipe has many different versions. I have used the typical South Indian way of preparing the dish. Even some south Indian people use coconut, but this is completely option. 

Lemon rice is very healthy. Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is an important antioxidant. It has lot of herbs and spices which is very good for our digestive system. It has good amount of potassium and sodium. Overall, this one pot recipe is super healthy.

A must try recipe. This is one pot recipe so enjoy this with your family.

Ingredients 

• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup peanuts 
• 10-15 curry leaves 
• 10-15 cashews 
• 2 whole red chilies 
• 2 green chilies 
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp mustard seeds 
• 1 tsp turmeric powder 
• Salt to taste 
• Oil to cook 

Recipe 

• First take a 1 cup rice then wash and soak for 15 mins.

• Then cook the rice properly.

• Drain excess water.

• Heat the oil on a pan.

• Add mustard seeds to this and let it crack this.

• Add urad dal and saute.

• Add chana dal and fry until the dals turns golden but do not let it burn.

• Then add peanuts to it and sauté a bit.

• Add curry leaves to give a beautiful aroma. you can skip this but this is important step to the recipe.

• Add red chilis.

• Add green chilis.

• Add cashews but this is completely optional, you can skip this step as well.

• Add turmeric powder and salt and mix well, but at this step switch off the gas.

• Add lemon juice for tangy flavor.

• Once masala is cooked then add rice.

• Mix rice with masala and cover with the lid for 1 min only.

• Serve it.

Serving         4

Cuisine     Indian 

Preparation Time          5 mins 

Cooking Time              20 mins

Advice 

• I removed excess water but if you want so can cook the rice with measurement of water.
• You can use hing as well, but I didn't use it.
• I didn't use water because the recipe is moist but if you required water then sprinkle some water on it.
• You can skip the cashews.
• Make sure the rice should not be mushy and sticky while cooking.

Nutrition 

• Calories            400 kcal
• Protein                   5 gm
• Fat                          9 gm
• Sugar                     2 gm
• Iron                        3 gm
• Fiber                      6 gm