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lemon rice recipe | South Indian lemon rice | chitranna rice |

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Tarla Dalal

 06 December, 2024

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લેમન રાઈસ રેસિપી - ગુજરાતી માં વાંચો (Lemon Rice ( South Indian Recipes ) in Gujarati)

Table of Content

About Lemon Rice ( South Indian Recipes ) down arrow
Ingredients down arrow
Methods down arrow
If you like Lemon Rice down arrow
For cooking the rice: down arrow
For lemon rice: down arrow
Pro tips for lemon rice down arrow
Nutrient values down arrow

lemon rice recipe | South Indian lemon rice | chitranna rice | with 22 amazing images.

lemon rice recipe is a popular South Indian rice. lemon rice has a nice sour lemon taste. This is a easy and quick lemon rice recipe made with basic ingredients like lemon juice, boiled rice and Indian spices. Popular South Indian breakfast often is lemon rice also called chitranna rice often made with leftover rice.

Rice is the much-loved staple food of South Indians. The day begins and ends with steaming hot rice, which is enjoyed in different ways.

In a traditional meal, the rice is relished with soupy rasam or spicy sambhar. Or, the rice is mixed with tempering and flavouring ingredients to make delectable preparations like Tamarind Rice Peanut Rice or Lemon Rice.

Such one-dish rice meals like lemon rice are called as variety rice, mixed rice or rice bhaat in South India. They make a convenient meal on a busy day, and are just perfect to carry in the lunch dabba as they taste awesome even after a couple of hours.

Notes and tips on making lemon rice recipe. 1. Washing helps in removing excess starch from the rice which eventually results into non-sticky grains. Most commonly short-grained rice are used to make South Indian lemon rice but, you can make use of any variety of rice. We suggest not to use Basmati rice. 2. Mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring continuously. 3. In fact, best results are achieved by using leftover rice as they barely have any moisture.

To make South Indian lemon rice healthier, replace cooked rice with brown rice. See our healthy South Indian lemon rice recipe for details. If you want to make chitranna rice in a microwave, then see our how to make lemon rice in a microwave.

Here is an authentic recipe for lemon rice, a traditional rice dish with a refreshing citrusy flavour. It is also made as part of the many-course traditional South Indian meal. Check out our article on how to serve a traditional South Indian meal.

Enjoy how to make lemon rice recipe | South Indian lemon rice | chitranna rice | with detailed step by step photos and video.

Lemon Rice ( South Indian Recipes ) recipe - How to make Lemon Rice ( South Indian Recipes )

Tags

Preparation Time

15 Mins

Cooking Time

5 Mins

Total Time

20 Mins

Makes

4 servings

Ingredients

Method

For lemon rice
 

  1. To make the lemon rice, heat the oil in a broad non-stick pan and add the mustard seeds.
  2. When the seeds crackle, add the urad dal, chana dal, and curry leaves and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute.
  3. Add the ginger, red chillies and sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds.
  4. Add the turmeric powder and rice, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring continuously.
  5. Add the lemon juice and salt, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
  6. Serve the lemon rice hot.

lemon rice recipe | South Indian lemon rice | chitranna rice | Video by Tarla Dalal

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Lemon Rice ( South Indian Recipes ) recipe with step by step photos

If you like Lemon Rice

 

    1. Lemon Rice ( South Indian Lemon Rice)  is an ideal recipe for quick lunch. Also, you can carry lemon rice in lunchbox. Apart from that, you can make other South-Indian rice recipes like :
For cooking the rice:

 

    1. For making the lemon rice, we will first cook the rice. For that, wash around ¾ cup of rice few times and soak with enough water for half an hour. Washing helps in removing excess starch from the rice which eventually results into non-sticky grains. Most commonly short-grained rice are used to make South Indian lemon rice but, you can make use of any variety of rice.
    2. After half an hour, drain the rice using a strainer.
    3. Boil 4 cups of water in a deep pan. Alternatively, you can even pressure cook the rice.
    4. Also, add oil. Oil coats the rice grain helping us to achieve separate grains on cooking
    5. Add salt to taste.
    6. Add the soaked and drained rice.
    7. Mix well and cook on a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes or till the rice is 95% cooked.
    8. Drain with the help of a strainer. You can even refresh using cold water to discontinue the internal cooking process. Keep aside.
For lemon rice:

 

    1. Heat the oil in a broad non-stick pan. Once the oil is hot, add the mustard seeds.
    2. When the seeds crackle, add the urad dal. They add a nice crunch to the Lemon Rice.
    3. Also, add chana dal. You can even add peanuts and cashew nuts
    4. Add the curry leaves.
    5. Sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute or till the dals turn light brown in colour.
    6. Add the ginger. The addition of curry leaves and ginger enhances the flavor of lemon rice.
    7. Add the red chillies.
    8. Sauté on a medium flame for 30 seconds.
    9. Add the turmeric powder.
    10. Also, add rice
    11. Mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring continuously. It is advisable to cook rice 2-3 hours prior to cooking the yellow rice. In fact, best results are achieved by using leftover rice as they barely have any moisture.
    12. Add the lemon juice to Lemon Rice. 
    13. Add the salt to the Lemon Rice, South Indian Lemon Rice. Adjust the quantity of lemon juice according to sour taste you would prefer.
    14. Mix well and cook Lemon Rice, South Indian Lemon Rice on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
    15. Serve the Lemon Rice, South Indian Lemon Rice hot with pappadum and yogurt.
    16. Our website has a huge collection of authentic South Indian recipes, glance through it to explore more recipes from different regions of South.
pro tips for lemon rice

 

    1. Washing helps in removing excess starch from the rice which eventually results into non-sticky grains. Most commonly short-grained rice are used to make South Indian lemon rice but, you can make use of any variety of rice. We suggest not to use Basmati rice.
    2. Mix gently and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring continuously.
    3. In fact, best results are achieved by using leftover rice as they barely have any moisture.
    4. Serve lemon rice with coconut stew.
Nutrient values (Abbrv)per plate
Nutrient values (Abbrv) per serving
Energy175 cal
Protein2.6 g
Carbohydrates26.7 g
Fiber1.7 g
Fat6.4 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium3.5 mg

Click here to view Calories for Lemon Rice ( South Indian Recipes )

The Nutrient info is complete

Your Rating*

user
Swastika Goenka

March 13, 2025, midnight

The recipe came out real tasty. I just could not make out what to accompany this with??

4 
user
Payal Parikh 86

March 13, 2025, midnight

This South Indian Lemon Rice is a very easy recipe, it is made within minutes. the flavour of lemon juice along with curry leaves, urad dal and dry red chillies is fab !! It is sure to be loved by all..

5 
user
Shubham palata

March 13, 2025, midnight

Your recipe is very nice EXCELLENT ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Shubham, Thank you for your kind words. Do try more and more recipes and let us know how you enjoyed them. Happy Cooking !!

user
Drashti patel

March 13, 2025, midnight

Which curry goes with this lemon rice??

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Drashti, Lemon Rice is usually enjoyed by itself. However if you yet want an accompaniment then you can serve with spicy chutney.

user
milan

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hello! I am a great fan of Tarla Dalal.T This lemon rice recipe is a big hit in my house.My entire family just loves it.Easy to prepare and delicious!!!

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Milan, Thank you for your kind words. Do try more and more recipes and let us know how you enjoyed them. Happy Cooking !!

user
Aradhana g gondaliya

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Thanks for the feedback for the ???? ????.

user
Shweta Pagare

March 13, 2025, midnight

Nimbu ka swad ne iss rice recipe ko ubbaarke nirali manmohak roop de diya. Everyone liked this rice dish.

5 
user
shivani deshmukh

March 13, 2025, midnight

5 
user
Tarla Dalal

March 13, 2025, midnight

Hi Shivani , we are delighted you loved the Lemon Rice recipe. Please keep posting your thoughts and feedback and review recipes you have loved. Happy Cooking.

user
Sheetal shah

March 13, 2025, midnight

good recipes

5 
user
Nazeeba

March 13, 2025, midnight

Im from tamil nadu. I tried your lemon rice recipe. I didnt use basmathi rice. I used ponni rice. It came out good. Thank you so much

5 
user
SANJAY HOTA

March 13, 2025, midnight

TASTY

5 
user
Laurie McL

March 13, 2025, midnight

Excellent! Used long-grain brown rice and diced green chili - came out delish!

5 
user

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