Lemon Rice
Lemon rice is a delicious south Indian dish. Lemon juice gives a very refreshing and tangy flavor to the rice.
for Rice:
- 1 cup rice
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
for Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed
- 1/2 teaspoon mustard seed
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 red whole red chili
- 1 green chili sliced in four long way
- 12 to 15 fresh curry leaves
- 2 tablespoons chana dal, pre-soaked in water for at least half an hour
- 1/4 cup unsalted roasted peanuts
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Method
Wash rice gently changing water several times until the water appears clear.
For fluffier rice, the rice should be soaked for at least 15 minutes prior to cooking.
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.
Preparing The Seasoning:
Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium heat; stir-fry the peanuts for about 2 minutes until peanuts changes the color 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, 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. Rice is ready, Enjoy!
Comments
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ana
May 19, 2020 at 10:49 pmsuch a simple and great tasting recipe. thank you Manjula you are my favorite cook to learn from! I believe you will be pleased to know that you are watched and your recipes are being enjoyed in Serbia 🙂 all the best to you and your loved ones!
Manjula Jain
May 20, 2020 at 10:14 pmAna Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed
Gopika
March 9, 2017 at 10:10 amTypically there is no jeera in Lemon rice!
Kathleen
September 13, 2016 at 7:23 amI have Basmati rice but it isn’t as long as yours . Can you recommend the brand you use ? We have an India food store I could buy there maybe . They carry many brands.
Manjula Jain
September 13, 2016 at 9:25 pmKathleen, I use the laxmi bran or tilda brand
vasanthi
July 21, 2016 at 7:37 amWow…it is soo delicious and who likes tangyness those are love this recipe a lot ,even children’s also like this recipe because of crispy crispy peanuts,chana dal,urad dal and also it takes very less time to prepare also easy to cook but i have a question can we add cashews also in this recipe…?
Manjula Jain
July 23, 2016 at 12:46 pmVasanti, yes cashews will be nice add on
Srilatha
September 26, 2015 at 1:51 amDear Manjula aunty
Please tell How to prepare Lemon powder instead of lemon juice to make lemon rice
Thank You
Kathleen
September 10, 2015 at 10:59 amI just made your Lemon rice and it was so delicious. The only ingredients I didn’t have was peanuts (substituted walnuts) and I didn’t have mustard seed (substituted regular mustard, just a small squirt) . I had everything else including the fresh curry leaves.
Thank you so much for taking your time to go through all the steps in your videos. I followed your directions and the rice is wonderfully flavorful. I could eat the whole pot !!
Have a nice day/evening and thanks again for all you do to bring us these wonderful dishes.
Kathleen
Annette
June 9, 2014 at 4:53 pmI made this recipe on the weekend, it was easy to make and a everyone enjoyed the flavour.
Upashna Saikia
April 25, 2014 at 11:18 pmIt is a gr8 recipe but I have a query that whether I can cook the Rice in a Normal way or not.. Because I found it realy hard to cook in a pan than Pressure cooker..
Manjula Jain
April 28, 2014 at 3:51 pmUpashna Saikia, cook the rice the way you like.
India: Déjà View | Veggie Next Door
March 30, 2014 at 11:22 am[…] of her own. She suggests googling to find Lemon Rice recipes, and especially recommends the site ManjulasKitchen.com for Indian recipes, including many vegan […]
millia
October 14, 2013 at 3:14 pmMade lemon rice today- great recipe, tastes yummy. I did slightly overcook the rice but hope to reduce heat after initial high the next time. I used dried curry leaves as I was not able to get the fresh one’s but it still taste v good. I used salted groundnuts again but it still tasted good. Thanks.
Dhivya
September 18, 2013 at 6:38 pmLooking so good.
Glenn and Pooja » Blog Archive » Black Bean & Lemon Rice Burritos with Garlic Chipotle Salsa
June 10, 2013 at 5:07 pm[…] lemon rice. If my mom were here she’d laugh. Lemon rice is a south indian dish that I used to LOVE as a kid. I mean really love. One day, my mom and I were […]
hrgd
January 19, 2013 at 12:56 amurad dal can also be added
Samreen Rukhsaar Jawahar
December 10, 2012 at 12:54 pmsuperbbbbbbb . Thank you so much aunty !
Esther
November 20, 2012 at 11:49 amI’m from Surinam and soon have my birthday. For sure i’ll try this lemon rice and also the sesame burfi. I’ll inform you of the result,hope it will be a success.
ziya
November 11, 2012 at 9:18 amThe masala was not properly mixed what to do
neha
November 10, 2012 at 1:01 amI tried making lemon rice Please review
http://www.mixandcook.com/recipe/7
Marie
October 9, 2012 at 10:47 pmI tried out your Lemon Rice recipe and would like to tell you that it has turned out great. Thanks for the same. Will continue to try some of your other recipes and give you my feedback.
farhana
August 7, 2012 at 12:04 pmthak for your wonderfull recepie
it was really tassty
adela beltran
May 3, 2012 at 9:54 pmi want to be very honest i am not very good in the kitchen but i think the way you explain is very easy so that make me more confident to tried….and guess what i made the lemon rice and i have no words is just DELICIOSO thank you so much,thank you,thank you….i forget to mention i made the yellow rice too and i was 10/10 you are my right hand in the kitchen THANK YOU.
Julia
April 21, 2012 at 3:02 amdear Manjula! I am a great fan of your recipes!! Lived in India for a while and all those tastes just don’t go out of my mind, and finally I can enjoy them again!!! Thank you so much!! best regards from Brazil!!
alexb
April 4, 2012 at 1:12 amWow! I am engaged to an indian boy and he asked me to cook lemon rice for him, I am from mexico and had no idea but your video saved me! Thank you so much aunty!
Ashish
December 1, 2011 at 5:07 pmWow! This turned out really good. Instead of rice, I used vermicelli and it was just delicious.
Thank you aunty, you are life saver 🙂
Bindu Balachandran.P
September 24, 2011 at 11:49 amAunty i am from Trivandrum.Kerala.U r really great.I used to add Asafoetida while i make Lemon Rice.But after watching ur video i undrstood tht no need of Asafoetida while we cook Lemon rice.I like this method.Thanks a lot for this video.U r really great Hats off to u.HARE KRISHNA
purvi
September 20, 2011 at 3:06 amhi aunty
i live in delhi ….and just married and ur recipe helps like anything….u r the magic stick of ganeshji for me as u dont keep secrets in ur recipe…..thanks a loooooooooooooooottttttttttttttttttt……………
jancy sebastian
July 20, 2011 at 7:58 pmthx
Narayana Chaitanya Dasa
July 19, 2011 at 12:36 pmHare Krishna!
Aunti-ji, I am making this tonight..
Would you serve this by itself, or with raita, or would you do a sabji and then this??
Thank you…
Appo
April 15, 2011 at 4:40 amSuprab!!!!
visuiyer
April 7, 2011 at 8:52 amGr8 My dear Sister..!!
In fact, most of your receipies are really a guide for me..!!
I am a self disciplined self cook..
In fact, your guide made me a better cook..!!
kathleen
April 3, 2011 at 12:26 pmManjula, Aunty! I wrote before asking about roti, paratha etc. I am a white lady whose boyfriend is Indian. I have been practicing my bread, and am pleased to report that most of the time they come out round and delicious!!Thank you so very much for your excellent instruction. God bless you and your family!
Priya
April 3, 2011 at 6:46 amHello manjula madam….I think you are the best cooker for our South Indian people….
Felix and Gabi
November 26, 2010 at 2:12 pmDear Manjula,
we are from the Canary Islands ,Spain and my son has found your website.
We are so happy, thank you so much for the recipies and the videos. We have tried Gulab Jamun,Kaju Burfi,Bengali Rasgullas. Next I like to try the Lemon Rice. My son goes to Hindi classes and his teacher enjoy it too!
Thank you so much for the good instruccines.
With our best wishes from Spain
Felix and Gabi
babli
November 12, 2010 at 9:00 ammanjula aunty u r the best cook
Georgia
September 21, 2010 at 9:36 amDear Manjula,
I love your web site. I have several Indian cookbooks, but nothing is better than having you right in my kitchen. We are a vegan, gluten free family and Indian food has made meal preperation fun and easy. Your recipes in particular are delicious.
Thank you so much,
Georgia from Los Angeles
Matirini (United States)
July 17, 2010 at 9:20 pmI love your recipes they are very Delicious Thank You for the inspirational ideas
Sunita
June 15, 2010 at 3:21 amDearest Aunty Manjula,
I recently came across your website and found it to be extremely interesting especially your videos. All your receipes are so mouthwatering that i just can’t resist trying them myself. I enjoy trying out different receipes coz I love to cook. I’ve tried the dahi vadas and moog dosas. Today I’ll try lime rice. They are so delicious. And henceforth I am gona be a regular viewer. You’ve inspired me. Thank you very much.
Daniel
May 3, 2010 at 8:04 pmI just made this served with some snap peas and mushrooms using the same seasonings and it was very very good. Thank you 🙂
Daniel, Las Vegas
New to Indian cooking
Maya
April 22, 2010 at 1:10 pmI’ve tried making the lemon rice it’s a great tasting recipe. I liked it especially because there’s no onion & garlic. Good for those who avoid pungent ingredients.
Maria
April 20, 2010 at 1:38 pmMrs Manjula,
Thank you for all your lovely recipes! I made the lemon rice today and it tastes unbelievably good! I can’t wait to cook more of your recipes. You inspired me soo much that I have been cooking only Indian food for the past 3 days!
Best regards from Greece
Benny
March 28, 2010 at 5:35 pmI love this recipe. I love rice and white especially. I tried this and I absolutely love it. My entire family loves this rice recipe. Thank you so much.
Peter
March 16, 2010 at 3:47 pmManjula, you’re the best! Thank you so much for this great website.
Mariola
February 20, 2010 at 11:13 amI just try this recipe and I loved it. It wasn’t difficult at all. at the taste is amazing.
Best regards from Panama (Central America)
parshottam mathur
January 17, 2010 at 12:10 pmHI, Thank you for this recipes
Afonso Passos
January 8, 2010 at 7:41 amNamaste! Greetings from Portugal! As a keen vegetarian and musician I have become a lover of Indian gastronomy and culture for a some years now so I was delighted to find your site! I will now begin my long life quest ,since I’m still 26, to master and delight myself and people around me with these great recipes! Thank you very much for your effort! God bless!
May vegetarian cooking enrich our lives!
“Live and let live”
Afonso 🙂
sunny
January 6, 2010 at 8:52 pmHEYYY I LOVE YOUR RECIPES !!!, BUT JUST WANTED TO ASK HAVE YOU GOT ANY PLANS TO MAKE AN IPHONE APP ? THAT WOULD BE AMAZING !!! THANKS ANYWAY AUNTY 🙂
Avdhesh Kumar
November 28, 2009 at 11:24 amHi Aunty,
Thanks a ton for the awesome dishes, I saw approx all the dishes here and found it is very easy to cook with your help, I am staying in pg, so could you please give us some easy and quick made recopies.
Thanks
Avdhesh Kumar
shweta
September 10, 2009 at 10:41 amDear Rowena
people here in south also prefer tomato pickle and/or rasam with lemon rice
Jill
August 23, 2009 at 9:46 amAunty,
Thank you so much for this recipe! I am making this dish now and it looks really good! Yum!
Jill
Upasana
August 14, 2009 at 10:00 amAunty,
Want to add one tip for lemon rice.
If we roast mustard and fenugreek seeds in equal quantity and make a powder of it and sprinkle it little bit on lemon rice,it enhances the taste even more also we can add puliogare powder with this.
Thank u,
Upasana
Manjula Jain
August 14, 2009 at 12:00 pmThank you Upasana sounds great I will try next time.
Radha
August 13, 2009 at 3:30 amI tried this lemon rice. It is very easy and simple to make and tastes very delicious.
Thanks for your recipe
Shalini
August 10, 2009 at 1:43 pmhello aunty!
The rice looks really yummy! Will try this for sure.
Can you please tell me where to buy the pots you used to make rice and seasoning? I want to buy it.
Thank u
Annette Laing
August 9, 2009 at 7:13 pmSounds yum! Any substitutes for the curry leaves, which are hard to find in our neck of the woods?
Jaya
August 9, 2009 at 7:44 pmEven if I don’t have curry leaves, I will make this rice because it will still come out good.
Rowena
August 9, 2009 at 1:13 pmDear Manjula Auntie,
Thank you very much for sharing your wonderful recipes on this website. Other than yogurt, what dishes would you serve Lemon Rice with?
Sincerely,
Rowena