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    Recipe Index » Rice

    South Indian Lemon rice recipe (Chitrannam)

    Published: Jul 16, 2012 · Last Modified: Apr 12, 2019 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 recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

    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


    How to make Lemon rice recipe (Step by Step Photos):


    or Jump to Recipe

    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.
    Lemon rice recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

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

    6) Roast them till they are light brown in color.
    Lemon rice recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

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

    8) Saute for 30 seconds.
    Lemon rice recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

    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
    Lemon rice recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

    11) Squeeze fresh lemon juice.

    12) Again mix well.
    Lemon rice recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

    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 recipe | Chitrannam recipe | South Indian lemon rice

    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
    Print Pin

    Lemon rice recipe (Chitrannam recipe)

    5 from 1 vote
    Tried this recipe? Leave a comment and/or give ★ ratings
    US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml)
    Author: Kanan
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: South Indian
    Calories: 509kcal
    Servings 2 servings
    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.

    making lemon rice 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.
    « Spinach toast recipe (palak toast)
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    Comments

    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
    2. Dale

      April 19, 2015 at 2:38 pm

      Is the Dal raw? My Dal came out very crunchy. Yet still very good.

      Reply
      • Kanan

        April 20, 2015 at 10:26 am

        Yes raw dal is used. It is fried on low-medium heat, so it gets fried and crunchy (of course eatable). Happy to know that you liked it.

        Reply
    3. Anna

      April 08, 2015 at 5:58 am

      Looks wonderful! I happen to have roasted sunflower seeds and think I'll use them instead of the other nuts. Believe me, I am a nut!! Lol!

      Having a happy day. Gayatri mantra in my head! 😀

      Reply
      • Kanan

        April 08, 2015 at 9:33 pm

        Thank you. Have a nice day.

        Reply
    4. Annonymous

      September 13, 2014 at 6:33 pm

      Simple and delicious! Love it.5 stars

      Reply
      • Kanan

        September 13, 2014 at 6:39 pm

        Thank you.

        Reply
    5. Ritu

      July 16, 2012 at 1:59 pm

      hey, thank you so much for sharing... I have tried lemon rice so many times, but somehow it just doesn't work! gotta try this recipe now...thanks again:)

      Reply
    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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