Lemon rice

Lemon rice is a specialty of the South Indian coastal state of Tamil Nadu.

I always like to cook more of the variety rice or one pot rice dishes in my menu in comparison to the full course meal, and among all those rice dishes, my favorite is Lemon rice. Lemon rice is the most common rice variety in a south Indian cuisine. It is also made on festive occasions like Aadi 18, navratri, and also on maatu pongal (the day after pongal or Sankranti). It is also one of the quickest recipes that can be made on a busy morning and can be packed in the lunch box.

An all time favorite especially during travel and as picnic food. Love the way how a pinch of turmeric adds color and the visual appeal of seasoning of spices, curry leaves and peanuts, nestled among the rice.

It is typically served with coconut chutney as a light meal. The delicious texture of the rice makes it an ideal food to be packed in lunch boxes for kids.

Ingredients 

• Steamed Rice - 1 cup
• Lemon - 1 no
• Dry red chillies - 2 or 3
• Mustard - ¼ tsp
• Split black gram - ¼ tsp
• Bengal gram - ½ tsp
• Roasted Peanuts - 1 tbsp
• 6-8 Cashewnuts
• Curry leaves - few
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 1 tbsp (preferably sesame oil)
• Grated Coconut - for garnish 
• A pinch of Asafoetida (hing)

Method

• Wash and cook the rice. The grains of the rice should have a bite to it. Spread the rice in a plate and let it cool a bit. Even left over rice from the previous day can be used.
• Grate the zest of a lemon and keep aside (Using the zest is optional but I love the extra lemony flavor it adds). Cut the lemon and squeeze the juice discarding the seeds. Keep it aside too.
• Now in a pan, heat a tbsp of oil. Pop some mustard seeds, bengal gram and split black gram. Add the roasted peanuts, cashewnut dry red chilly, Asafoetida and curry leaves. Fry for half a minute.
• Add the turmeric powder, lemon zest and switch off. You can also add 1 tbsp of grated coconut for some added flavor.
• Finally add the lemon juice and salt. Immediately add the rice. Toss everything together till it is well mixed. Taste and adjust the salt or lemon juice as needed. 
• Garnish with grated  cilantro. This rice stays good at room temperature for 2 days and hence is a best choice while traveling.

Variation

4 tablespoons of grated coconut can be added along with the seasoning and lemon coconut rice is ready.

Similarly grated carrots can also be added, which will give a colorful appeal to the rice.

Peanuts could also be replaced with boiled green peas or boiled sweet corn.

Instead of the regular rice, millet rice can be used to make healthier variations