Simple Lemon Rice

Lemon rice is so easy to make but it has never been a go to meal for me for some reason. Not because I do not have limes or lemons on hand. I usually do. Anyway on this particular day the lemons that DD2 had forced me to buy for one of her experiments was showing signs of being distressed and that's when it was decided to make lemon rice. Also because it had been a long time since I made lemon rice.

I have one other recipe for lemon rice, this one here to which I add some powdered spices - masala powder just to jazz things up a bit because lemon rice is usually a bit bleh!

A friend at work brought me some lemon rice as a prasad after she had done poojai at home. That lemon rice with its pure taste of just the lemon was something I suddenly craved. So the decision to make this simple lemon rice was made.

Back then as far as I knew lemon rice was one of those things that was made to spice up leftover rice which nobody would touch. But now it is a popular one pot meal that with some potato chips and yogurt is pretty good.

Lemon Rice
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

1. 2 cups of rice (I used ponni par boiled rice)
2. 2 medium sized lemon juiced
3. 1/2 cup of chopped red onion or shallots
4. 8-10 green chilies slit (adjust as per the heat level)
5. 2 cloves of garlic diced (optional)
6. hand full of roasted peanuts (skip for nut free)
7. 2 tsp of turmeric powder
8. seasonings: cumin seeds 1/4 tsp, mustard seeds 1/2 tsp, channa dal(kadalai paruppu) 1/2 tbsp, urad dal (2 tsp), curry leaves
9. salt to taste
10. 2-3 tsp of oil

Method

1. Set the rice to cook with enough water and make sure it does not get mushy. Add a bit of oil and rice if preferred.
2. Juice the lemons and set it aside. Also the shake the seeds out of the green chilies if you want, I usually do.
3. In a wide mouthed pan or kadai add oil, add the channal dal and when it starts to brown add the urad dal, followed by the cumin and mustard seeds. When the mustard starts to pop add the curry leaves.
4. Add in the onions and green chilies and saute till it starts to brown, add the garlic. Do not let the garlic burn.
5. Add the turmeric powder and salt and saute for a couple more minutes.
6. Add the roasted peanuts and saute for a minute.
7. Turn off the heat and let the onion mixture cool down a bit.
8. Now fluff up the cooked rice and set aside.
9. Once the onion mixture is come to room temperature add in the lemon juice, mix it in, add in the rice and gently mix it so all the rice is coated.

A simple but very flavorful lemon rice is ready.

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