Quick Lemon Rice (from Leftover Rice)

Lemon rice and all other mixed rice varieties are my favorite. I can eat without getting tired even every day for lunch.

This is an easy recipe of Rice that can be prepared in minutes and taste amazing. Lemon rice is a great way to renovate the left over rice :)

The lemon rice recipe has many different versions. I have used the typical South Indian way of preparing lemon rice. The key ingredients other then lemon in this lemon rice is curry leaves and mustard seeds. Normally in South India coconut is added in lemon rice preparation. But that is optional.

Ingredients..

Cooked rice - 1 & 1/2- 2 cups (u can use leftover rice or freshly cooked rice,, both works fine)

oil - 1 tbsp

Mustard - 1 tsp

Urad dal(split white lentils)- 1.5-2 tsp

Chana dal(spilt bengal gram, preferably roasted )- 1 tbsp

Cashew nuts/ Peanuts - 2 tbsp

dried Whole Red chilli - 1

Green chillies - 2

Ginger paste/finely chopped-1/2 tsp

Asafoetida - 1/8 tsp

Curry leaves - 1 sprig

Lemon - 2

Turmeric - 1/2 tsp

Salt - As needed

Tempering..

Heat a kadai/ pan with oil, add mustard, once spluttered, add urad dal, chana dal n cashewnuts . Fry till golden.

Add curry leaves, broken red chillies, Green chillies, ginger, turmeric powder, Asafoetida and continue to sauté. Add salt and mix. Add rice, lemon juice and mix well.

Cook on low heat till the rice gets heated through. Garnish with red chilli and serve hot.

For plating.. I used a bowl, greased it lightly with oil and added rice to it, pressed it a bit, placed serving plate over it and turned it upside down, carefully removed the bowl and here it is..!

Notes..
1. Add turmeric generously. Then only you may get the colour.

2. Adding red chillies and green chillies help a lot in flavour + spiciness.

3. I used basmati rice , but you can use any rice or even do with left over rice.

4. Give some standing time for the lemon rice to get the tastes incorporated well.