The recipe I give you today is absolutely a keeper in your lunch box menu. Yes, this South Indian Lemon Rice is an all-time favorite among any school-going kids or working people.
Easy South Indian Lemon Rice
South Indian Lemon rice, as the name suggests is rice mixed with lemon. It has a nice tangy flavor which makes the dish tastes better. We also add chopped ginger which not only enhances the flavor but also helps in digestion. When packed in the lunch box along with potato fry, am sure the lunch box comes back empty.
How to make South Indian Lemon rice?
When you have leftover rice, you need just 5 minutes to make this South Indian lemon rice. No unnecessary ingredients or spices needed. Extract the lemon juice. Saute chilies and nuts. Add lemon juice and switch off. Add cooked rice and required salt. Lemon rice is ready. Let it stay for at least an hour before serving as the rice absorbs the flavor over time.
Tips to make perfect lemon rice
- Do not boil the lemon juice. It makes the dish bitter. So be careful to remove the pan from heat once you added lemon juice.
- If you are cooking rice freshly, be aware of not overcooking it. Rice should not be mushy.
- Once you cooked the rice, cool down on a wide plate before making lemon rice. If you add hot rice to the lemon mix, the rice may go mushy. So cool it down before.
How long Lemon rice stays good?
Lemon rice is made to take while traveling. People in South India, still take this for their lunch or dinner while traveling. So this stays good for 2 days at room temperature. Make sure to use a clean spoon to serve.
Food Bloggers Recipe Swap
I made this dish as part of the Recipe swap challenge of FB Group.
I was about to recreate a recipe from a dear fellow blogger Pavani of Pavanis Kitchen. When I saw this recipe, I was like how I missed this posting on my site till now. Check out her site for simple yet delicious recipes.
Other Rice recipes for you
Fried Chicken Biriyani – Dum Biriyani Style
KonguNaadu ArisiParuppu Saadam / Variety Rice with Lentils
Indian Lemon Rice recipe
Ingredients
Cooked rice – 2 cups
Lemon Juice – from 1/2 lemon
Chana dal – 1 tsp
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Peanuts – 2 tbsn
Green chili – 2 slit lengthwise
Dry Red chili – 1 broken
Ginger – 1/4 tsp chopped
Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp
Coconut Oil – 2 Tsp
Curry Leaves – few
Salt – as required
Method
- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds.
- When mustard seeds crackle, add chana dal, curry leaves, ginger, green chili, and dry red chili.
- Saute it for a minute and add peanuts.
- Saute the peanuts till they turn golden and adds turmeric powder.
- Add lemon juice and switch off.
- Remove the pan from heat and add salt.
- Add cooked rice and give a gentle mix till all the rice is covered.
- Check for salt.
- Let it stay covered for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve along with Potato Podimas / Mashed Potato Stir fry, Alu Kangmet – A Manipuri Potato Dish, Baby Potato Roast, or any fryums.
Notes
- Once you add lemon juice, take the pan away from heat. Do not overcook the lemon. If so, it will turn bitter.
- Let the rice cool down completely before adding it to the lemon mix.
Lemon Rice – An easy Lunch box recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Cooked Rice
- Lemon Juice from 1/2 Lemon
- 1 Tsp Chana dal
- 1/2 Tsp Mustard Seeds
- 2 Tbsn Peanuts
- 2 Nos Green Chili Slit Lengthwise
- 1 No Dry Red Chili Broken
- 1/4 Tsp Ginger Chopped
- 1/4 Tsp Turmeric Powder
- 2 Tsp Coconut Oil
- Curry Leaves few
- Salt As required
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan.Add mustard seeds.
- When mustard seeds crackle, add chana dal, curry leaves, green chili and dry red chili.
- Saute it for a minute and add peanuts.
- Saute the peanuts till it turn golden and add turmeric powder.
- Add lemon juice and switch off.
- Remove the pan from heat and add salt.
- Add cooked rice and give a gentle mix till all the rice is covered.
- Check for salt.
- Let it stay covered for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Serve along with Potato Podimas / Mashed Potato Stir fry, Alu Kangmet – A Manipuri Potato Dish, Baby Potato Roast or any fryums.
Notes
- Once you add lemon juice, take the pan away from heat.Do not over cook the lemon. If so, it will turn bitter.
- Let the rice cool down completely before adding it to the lemon mix.
Nutrition
Pin South Indian Lemon Rice
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Please check out the other Recipe Swap Recipes!
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- Lemon Rice
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- Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwich
- Black Eyed Peas Beets Salad
- Turnip Beetroot Radish Coleslaw
- Saag Aloo – Vegan Spinach Potato Curry
- Yellow Split Pea Fritters
- Coriander Matar Poha – Flattened Rice with Coriander and Green Peas
- Apple Cinnamon Muffins
- Mango Papaya Orange Smoothie
What a quick and refreshing recipe this is and the lemon rice is one of my favorite for lunch boxes and travel. I love adding peanuts as well in the lemon rice. Looks so good and I want to make some right now for lunch!
Thank you
One of my favourite rice recipe, simple yet delicious and perfect with some robust flavoured curry or daal.
Thank you
Genius! The flavors are so different from what my family is used to it is like they never tasted rice before. I use leftover rice from our Chinese take-out.
Thank you
I love this rice, the lemon makes it really fragrant and nice
Thank you
Lemon Rice is my favorite goto lunch on weekdays and I’m loving your recipe.
Thank you
Love this lemon rice! Sounds so flavorful and perfect for Springtime. And like you said, definitely a keeper!
Thank you
I love the flavor in this recipe! I’ll be making it again for sure!
Thank you
This rice would taste great with just about anything! I love that it is so simple to make too!
Thank you
This looks amazing! I can definitely see including this in my lunch box!
Thank you
I absolutely love lemon rice. Simple, flavourful and delicious, it is my go-to thing when I can’t be bothered to cook something elaborate or when I have to take something to a potluck. Your version looks so good! 🙂
Thank you
Never tried ginger, though I add garlic sometimes. Yes, this is indeed great for lunch boxes and when traveling.
I never added garlic…like the idea..Thank you
looks so bright and inviting. This simple rice is definitely a flavorful addition to any meal!
Thank you
It’s truly an awesome lunch box dish, one can never get bored of it ! Love your presentation and especially the shell shaped bowl .Well done Lathiya!
Thank you so much dear
Lovely rice! Looks so beautiful.
Thank you 😊
Nice and a tasty way to use leftover rice.!
Absolutely, thank you 😊