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    Home » Lunch » Rice Varieties » Lemon Rice -Variety Rice, Lunch Box Recipe

    Lemon Rice -Variety Rice, Lunch Box Recipe

    Oct 17, 2012 · Modified: Sep 25, 2021 by Priya_Srinivasan ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Lemon rice, a tangy, zesty mixed rice recipe. An easy to make lunch box dish, that can quickly tossed together during the morning rush. 

    lemon rice

    Lemon rice is a popular and more frequently made rice dish in South-Indian kitchen. It is also one of most common travel food for travel long distance train and bus journey. They usually pack mixed rice dishes like pulihora or lemon rice, as they stay good for a day or two.

    Lemon rice is one of the easiest mixed rice recipe to make. It gets done in less than 10 minutes if you have some leftover rice. It is also a popular rice recipe made for pooja offerings.

    How it is made?

    You need nicely done rice, that is fluffy and separated. If the cooked rice is mushy, than lemon rice would resemble a mash. So, perfectly done rice is the main ingredient in the dish.

    A tadka/tempering with oil, mustard seeds, hing/asafoetida, curry leaves and crunchy elements like chana dal, urad dal and peanuts are added to the tadka. Then the coloring element turmeric powder is added. This sizzling tadka added to the fluffed up rice along with salt and finished with fresh lemon juice and garnishes.

    lemon mixed rice

    Another method

    Some might add the lemon juice to the tadka and let it boil a little and then add everything to the rice and mix. They say it is done so, people don’t catch a sore throat because of the lemon. My Amma follows the above method. But i learnt to make lemon rice this way from my aunt and like the freshness of lemon in the mixed rice.

    More Mixed Rice Recipes

    • Coconut Carrot & Peas rice
    • Burghol Pulihora
    • Curry leaves rice
    Print
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    Lemon Rice | Variety Rice | Lunch box recipe

    Lemon rice, a tangy, zesty mixed rice recipe. An easy to make lunch box dish, that can quickly tossed together during the morning rush. 
    Prep Time5 mins
    Adding tempering and mixin5 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Keyword: A quick rice recipe, Easy to make rice dish, How to make lemon rice, How to make mixed rice, Lemon mixed rice, Lemon rice recipe
    Calories:

    Materials

    • 2 cups Cooked rice Fresh or leftover
    • 2 nos Indian lemon juiced
    • ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
    • Fresh coriander leaves for garnish
    • fresh ginger for garnish optional

    Tempering

    • 1 tablespoon oil any vegetable oil, i prefer Gingely oil
    • ½ teaspoon mustard seeds/kadugu
    • 1 teaspoon chana dal
    • 1 tsp urad dal
    • 3-4 nos red chilies or use 2 nos green chilies
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon hing/asafoetida
    • 2 teaspoon peanuts or any nut of your choice, if allergic to nuts, omit this
    • a sprig of curry leaf

    Instructions

    • Spread the rice on a plate and fluff it with a fork. If using leftover rice, then i would suggest steam it a little in the Microwave or on the stove-top.
    • If you are planning to cook rice fresh, then rinse 1 cup of rice 3 or 4 times with water. Add 2 cups of fresh water, cook the rice on stove-top, once the rice is 90% done, strain the extra water completely and keep it covered for 10 minutes. If making in pressure cooker, cook for 3 whistles.
    • Heat oil in a pan, Splutter mustard seeds, throw in curry leaves, gram dal, urad dal, hing and red chilies
    • When dal changes color, add peanuts and turmeric powder. Saute for  30 secs for the nuts to roast.
    • Pour this sizzling tempering on the rice. Mix well.
    • Add lemon juice, mix well. Adjust Salt. Garnish with coriander and ginger.
    • If serving immediately, serve it warm with a side of crisp, preferably appalam. Or pack it in lunch box with your favorite dry subzi.
    Variety rice

    I prefer to serve this variety rice with a side of appalam/poppadam. You can also pair it with a spicy dry subzi.

    Dry subzi to pair

    • Potato & Okra Subzi
    • Bhindi Masala
    • Beans subzi

    If you have tried this recipe and like it, give it a star rating or let me know in the comments below. You could also share it with me on Instagram using #icampinmmykitchen and tagging me @priyasrinivasan
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    Comments

    1. Unknown

      October 17, 2012 at 7:15 pm

      love mixed rice always!
      B-O-O-O-O Halloween Event Oct 5th to Nov 5th
      SYF&HWS – Cook with Spices

      South Indian Cooking (SIC) Series

      Reply
    2. subhashini

      October 17, 2012 at 7:21 pm

      Lemon rice is all time my fav. Yours look delicious

      Reply
    3. Suma Gandlur

      October 17, 2012 at 7:45 pm

      A perfect one that works for both festivals and quick lunches. Looks so colorful.
      I came to know about your baby when I was going thru my old emails. Congrats! How is he doing now? My blessings to him. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Priya Suresh

      October 17, 2012 at 8:21 pm

      Our family favourite, love to finish this whole bowl of my fav rice rite now.

      Reply
    5. Jayanthi

      October 17, 2012 at 9:09 pm

      The rice looks so yummy!

      Reply
    6. Nupur

      October 17, 2012 at 9:41 pm

      Now that I have started cooking rice in different varities.. I am sure I would love to try this one some time soon .. 🙂

      Reply
    7. Torviewtoronto

      October 17, 2012 at 9:45 pm

      deliciously done looks wonderful

      Reply
    8. Gayathri Kumar

      October 17, 2012 at 11:53 pm

      Looks so inviting Priya. Lovely snaps..

      Reply
    9. divya

      October 18, 2012 at 1:07 am

      looks soo mouthwatering..

      Reply
    10. The Pumpkin Farm

      October 18, 2012 at 3:00 am

      an ex colleague used to bring this often during festive periods…it is totally yummy recipe

      Reply
    11. Akila

      October 18, 2012 at 3:06 am

      I am feeling hugey after seeing this

      Event: Dish name starts with P

      Reply
    12. Sangeetha Nambi

      October 18, 2012 at 4:55 am

      Love this tangy rice ever…
      http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com

      Reply
    13. Anonymous

      October 18, 2012 at 7:29 am

      This is my absolute fav rice dish. I can actually have it everyday 🙂

      Reply
    14. Unknown

      October 18, 2012 at 12:01 pm

      simple and delicious rice recipe, looks perfect

      Reply
    15. Prabha Mani

      October 18, 2012 at 1:32 pm

      My family fav rice.. Make the lemon rice oftenly. Wonderful presentation!

      Reply
    16. Srivalli

      October 18, 2012 at 1:53 pm

      Very apt for the festival season!

      Reply
    17. Chef Mireille

      October 18, 2012 at 4:55 pm

      so colorful and inviting

      Reply
    18. sushma

      October 18, 2012 at 8:17 pm

      One of my fav rice. Good one

      Reply
    19. Padmajha

      October 23, 2012 at 11:41 am

      This is my fav!Nice one for give aways and for the lunchbox

      Reply

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