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    Home » Rice

    Lemon Rice (Chitrannam)

    Published: Jul 16, 2012 · Last Modified: Aug 19, 2022 by Kanan Patel / 9 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Lemon rice recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

    Lemon rice recipe - Very popular rice dish from South India. It can be part of simple everyday meal or part of the special occasion or festival feast. It also known as chitrannam or Nimmakaya annam in other Indian languages.

    Lemon rice served in bowl with napkin behind.

    The easiest and quickest rice recipe that you will ever come across. If you have cooked rice ready or have some leftover rice, this recipe can be done in only 5 minutes.

    If cooking the rice specially for this, I would recommend cooking the rice few hours before. So cooked rice has some time cool down and firm up. So while making lemon rice, the rice grain will not break while Stirling.

    Addition of peanuts and cashews give nice crunch in this rice dish.

    The amount of lemon juice is as per your liking. Also every lemon has different sourness. So start with little amount, taste and see if needed more.

    Check out other south Indian rice recipes
    tomato rice  //  tamarind rice  //  raw mango rice  //  sweet corn rice  // Curd rice

    Step By Step Photo Instructions

    1) First you need cooked rice. Here is the step by step method to cook perfect rice. each and every rice grain is separated from each other. Perfect for this kind of rice recipes. Let the rice cool down slightly and then use in this recipe.

    2) Prepare all the ingredients, as once oil is heated we need them one by one. Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add mustard seeds, let them pop.

    3) Then lower the heat to low, add urad dal.

    4) Saute with stirring constantly till it becomes light brown in color.

    Collage of 2 images showing tempering of urad dal and mustard seeds.

    5) Now add dried red chili, cashews and peanuts.

    6) Roast them till they are light brown in color.

    Collage of 2 images showing roasting peanuts and cashews.

    7) Then add curry leaves, slit green chilies and turmeric powder.

    8) Saute for 30 seconds.

    Collage of 2 images showing sauteing green chilies and curry leaves.

    9) Now add cooked rice and salt if needed. make gas heat medium. you can skip the salt, if your cooked rice already salted.

    10) Mix well and make sure that rice grain do not break too much. Let the rice get heated up.

    Collage of 2 images showing adding and mixing rice.

    11) Squeeze fresh lemon juice.

    12) Again mix well.

    Collage of 2 images showing squeezing lemon juice and mixing.

    Lemon rice is ready to serve.

    Serving suggestion: Serve as such or with papadum. This is good rice recipe to pack in kids’ or adult’s lunch box. Serve some roasted or fried papadum on side. This makes light yet filling meal.

    Lemon rice in a black bowl with garnish of roasted peanuts.
    Step by Step Photos AboveWant to make it perfect first time? Don't forget to check out Step-by-Step photo instructions and helpful Tips & Tricks !!
    Lemon rice recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice
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    Lemon Rice (Chitrannam)

    5 from 1 vote
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    This is south Indian style lemon rice that is super easy to make.
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Calories: 509kcal
    Servings 2
    Prep Time 25 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml) See details

    Ingredients  

    • 3 cups Cooked rice
    • 2 tablespoons Oil
    • ½ teaspoon Mustard seeds
    • ½ teaspoon Urad dal (split, skinless black gram)
    • 1 Dried red chilies
    • 2 tablespoons Peanuts
    • 2 tablespoons Cashew nuts
    • 1-2 Green chili slit
    • 6-7 Curry leaves
    • ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
    • Salt to taste
    • 2 ½ tablespoons Lemon juice

    Instructions 

    • First you need cooked rice. Let the rice cool down slightly and then use in this recipe.
    • Heat the oil in a pan on medium heat. Once hot add mustard seeds, let them pop.
    • Then lower the heat to low, add urad dal. Saute with stirring constantly till it becomes light brown in color.
    • Now add dried red chili, cashews and peanuts. Roast them till they are light brown in color.
    • Then add curry leaves, slit green chilies and turmeric powder. Saute for 30 seconds.
    • Now add cooked rice and salt if needed.
    • make gas heat medium.
    • Mix well and make sure that rice grain do not break too much. Let the rice get heated up
    • Squeeze fresh lemon juice.
    • Again mix well.
    • Turn off the stove.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 509kcal | Carbohydrates: 65.1g | Protein: 10.1g | Fat: 23.1g | Saturated Fat: 3.5g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 590mg | Potassium: 243mg | Fiber: 2.6g | Sugar: 1.5g
    *Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 serving
    Did you make this recipe?Snap a pic, mention @spice.up.the.curry or tag #spiceupthecurry. I would love to see.

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    1. Tara Nair

      June 16, 2015 at 1:45 am

      WOW! This one is so simple and looks yummy too. I am gonna try this right away. Thanks for sharing the recipe Kanan 🙂

      Reply
      • Kanan

        June 16, 2015 at 10:24 am

        Thank you. Hope you like it

        Reply
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    Kanan

    Hi, I'm Kanan Patel. I share easy, delicious vegetarian recipes (mostly Indian) and Eggless baking recipes that you can sure count on!

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