Instant Lemon Rice

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Lemon Rice in South Indian Style

Rice is one of the most popular food in Southeast Asia, It is consumed on daily basis in most parts of Asia, either in the form of plain rice, Pulao, or Biryani. Though "Biryani" is world-famous and equally enjoyed by westerners but other forms of rice delicacies are not so popular around the world. One such dish is "Lemon Rice" which is originally from south India and it is getting popular as quite a lot of IT professionals around the world are from South India. The rice is aromatic and simple to make with lemon-infused flavorful is healthy and light on the stomach. A must for Lunch Box if not weekly at least fortnightly.
Lemon rice is common for travel, people pack it for long journeys as the Lemon Rice stays good and flavorful for long hours.

• Preparation Time   5 mins 
• Cooking Time  5 - 7 mins
• Serves 2 - 3
• Course Breakfast, Lunch, Main

Ingredients 

• Long Grain Rice  1 cup
• Mustard Seeds  1 tsp 
• Cumin Seeds 1 tsp
• Ginger 1/2 inch grated
• Chana Dal 2 tsp
• Urad Dal 1 tsp
• Turmeric 1 - 2 tsp 
• Dry Red Chillis 2  
• Curry leaves 
• Salt to taste
• Fresh Lemon Juice 3 - 4 tbs (2 lemon)
• Green Chillis (opt)  2 slit into two halves   
• Peanuts 3 - 4 tbs
• Cashew (opt) 2 tbs
• Oil 2 - 3 tbs
• Hing 1/2 tsp 

Method

To make this dish we need to wash and soak the rice for at least 10 - 15 mins. You can make this with pre-cooked or leftover rice also. For this dish we need grainy, fluffy, and dry rice not mushy so the ratio to cook rice will be 1:2; if you are cooking in a pressure cooker cook for just 1 whistle. Let it cool down completely because we need fluffy rice. Now heat a pan add oil on medium heat roast the peanuts and cashew until crunchy, keep aside. Now in the same pan add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chana dal, urad dal splutter everything on a low flame. Now add curry leaves, grated ginger, red chillis, green chillis, saute everything on low flame for about 30 - 40 secs, and turn off the flame. Add turmeric (Haldi), lemon juice to the pan, and then add the rice to the mixture, mix everything well add salt, fried peanuts, and cashew mix all together, adjust the salt and lemon juice if required. Cover it for a few mins it's ready to serve.

Instant Kitchen Tip

• Leftover rice or pre-cooked rice is an ideal choice for making this dish, if you are purposely making rice for this dish my suggestion is to add a little salt and oil to it.

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