Lemon Rice or Chitranna is a popular South Indian Rice recipe where the rice is flavoured with lemon juice and is tangy and spicy. The dish is a complete meal in it self or it can be eaten with curd, raita, curries or any chutney and is a wonderful way to use left over rice. Here is how to make Lemon Rice Recipe (Step by Step + Video).
South India is a treasure trove of recipes that are simple and easy to make yet very flavourful. The variety of flavoured rice that is made in southern states of India is fascinating to know. This lemon flavor rice is one of the most popular rice recipes and it can be made in a jiffy.
You can either make lemon rice using left over steamed rice or can make rice fresh for this. This dish is typically made in sesame oil but you can also use olive oil or any other oil of your choice.
To make lemon rice, a tempering of mustard seeds, urad dal, chana dal and curry leaves is made and is added to the cooked rice. Lemon juice is added at the end to give it a slight tangy taste to this lemon Rice.
You can add green chillies and dry red chillies for a spicy flavour and can omit them if making this rice dish for kids. Here is how to make Lemon Rice.
What to serve with Indian Lemon Rice?
I like to serve some kind of Raita ( Yogurt dip) and papad with lemon rice. You can also serve pickle and chutney. Coconut chutney also pairs well with this.
Can you eat lemon rice during pregnancy?
Although lemon is full of good vitamins and minerals, eating it during pregnancy may cause some problems like heart burn or damage to teeth enamel. So if possible, just avoid eating it for those 9 months or consult your physician before making it a part of your diet.
Tips to make best Indian Lemon Rice Recipe
Use a days old cooked rice to make this recipe. The rice grains are more separate and fries well with the spices.
If using fresh rice, refrigerate it for a few hours before tempering.
Use short grain to make this dish. Although there are no rules, it’s traditionally made with sona masuri rice.
Adjust the amount of green chilli and lemon juice according to your taste.
This rice keeps well in refrigerator for 3-4 days.
This is a great recipe to pack for lunch box.
You can also drizzle a tsp of ghee over the rice before serving. It will add on to the taste.
You can also add veggies like carrots, beans etc to this rice to make it more nourishing.
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How to make Lemon Rice Step by Step
Dry roast the peanuts and cashew nuts till slightly browned. Keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan.
When the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, urad dal and chana dal. Cook till dals are slightly browned.
Add green chilli, dry red chilli, curry leaves and hing. Cook for 10 seconds.
Add the roasted peanuts, cashew nuts, salt and turmeric powder. Cook for 10 seconds.
Now add the cooked rice and lemon juice and mix well. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
South Indian Lemon Rice Video Recipe
Lemon Rice Recipe
Lemon Rice
Lemon Rice is an easy to make rice dish flavored with lemon juice. It is perfect to make as a lunchbox option for kids. Here is a traditional recipe to make Lemon Rice.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Cooked Rice
- 2 tbsp Sesame Oil
- 1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
- 1 tsp Urad Dal
- 1 tsp Chana Dal
- 2 Green Chilli Split into half
- 3-4 Dry Red Chillies
- 2 sprigs Curry Leaves
- 1/4 tsp Hing
- 1/4 cup Peanuts
- 6-8 Cashew Nuts
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
Dry roast the peanuts and cashew nuts till slightly browned.
Keep aside.
Heat oil in a pan.
When the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, urad dal and chana dal.
Cook till dals are slightly browned.
Add green chilli, dry red chilli, curry leaves and hing.
Cook for 10 seconds.
Add the roasted peanuts, cashew nuts, salt and turmeric powder.
Cook for 10 seconds.
Add the cooked rice and lemon juice and mix well.
Cook for another 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
I like my lemon rice slightly less tangy, so I added only 1 tbsp of lemon juice but you can add more if you like the taste.
Use a days old cooked rice to make this recipe. The rice grains are more separate and fries well with the spices.
If using fresh rice, refrigerate it for a few hours before tempering.
Use short grain to make this dish. Although there are no rules, it's traditionally made with sona masuri rice.
Adjust the amount of green chilli and lemon juice according to your taste.
This rice keeps well in refrigerator for 3-4 days.
This is a great recipe to pack for lunch box.
You can also drizzle a tsp of ghee over the rice before serving. It will add on to the taste.
You can also add veggies like carrots, beans etc to this rice to make it more nourishing.
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Preetha Soumyan
No words to say about the clicks.. and the lemon rice looks fantastic
Gayathri Sathyanarayanan
Tempting lemon rice.nice clicks.
Speed, Testera
This really looks delicious. I wonder how it taste.
Neha Mathur
It tastes delicious. Do try it once.