Lemon rice is a vibrant and flavorful South Indian dish that brings warmth, freshness, and zingy flavor of lemon to your table. It’s an everyday and easy-to-make recipe in many Indian households, especially as a quick lunch, a light dinner, or even as part of a festive meal.
The beauty of lemon rice lies in its simplicity, easy to find masal, and quick recipe as cooked rice, tempered spices, crunchy peanuts, curry leaves, and freshly squeezed lemon juice come together in a matter of minutes. Whether you are cooking it from leftover rice or cooking it freshly, it is very easy for beginners to prepare it and perfect for anyone looking to whip up a tangy, satisfying dish in no time.
Let’s dive into the step-by-step process of making this delicious lemon rice at home!
Lemon Rice Calories
A single serving of lemon rice contains around 200-250 calories ( 1 serving = 1 cup of rice), also based on the amount of oil and peanuts used.
- Calories: ~230 kcal
- Carbs: 35–40g
- Protein: 5–6g
- Fat: 7–9g
- Fiber: 2g
This makes lemon rice a moderate-calorie, balanced dish that’s light on the stomach yet satisfying.
Lemon Rice Nutrition
Lemon rice offers more than just a flavor or a delicious meal, but it also offers nutritional value that makes it a smart choice to have a quick meal.
Nutritional Benefits:
- Carbohydrates from rice give you energy.
- Proteins from dals and peanuts help with muscle repair.
- Healthy fats from oil and peanuts aid in nutrient absorption.
- Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Lemon juice is rich in vitamin C and supports immunity.
- Curry leaves and ginger aid digestion.
Although it’s a vegetarian recipe, it packs a good mix of essential nutrients and can be paired with curd, chutney, or even a boiled egg for added protein.
Lemon Rice Recipe Ingredients
To make lemon rice, you don’t need anything fancy — just pantry staples and a few fresh ingredients:
- 1.5 TSP Oil (prefer to have sesame oil)
- 2 Cups Water (to boil the rice)
- 1 TSP Mustard Seeds
- 1 TSP Chana Dal
- 1 TSP Urad Dal
- 2 TSP Peanuts
- Salt (As per your taste)
- 2 Green Chillies ( Chopped)
- 1 Dried Red Chilli
- 8-10 Curry Leaves
- 1/2 TSP Turmeric Powder (As per your taste)
- Hing (If required, as we don’t use hing in our dishes, but tastes the same)
- 2-3 TSP Lemon Juice (As per your taste)
- Cashews (Chopped) (Optional)
How to Make Lemon Rice
Follow these simple steps to make lemon rice that’s flavorful, fresh, and perfectly spiced:
STEP 1: Cook the Rice
Rinse the rice thoroughly in water 3–4 times until the water runs clear. This helps remove extra starch and prevents the rice from becoming sticky.
- In a pot or pressure cooker, just add the washed rice, water, and a little salt.
- Cook until the rice grains are soft but not mushy. If you are using a vessel/pot, cook the rice for around 10-12 minutes, and if you are using a cooker and cook it for 2 whistles.
- Once cooking is done, spread the rice on a wide plate; this helps in making it cool quickly and also prevents clumping
- Let it cool completely before using in the lemon rice (this is important to prevent the rice from turning mushy).
- In a wide and deep kadai, heat 1.5 cups of sesame oil on a medium flame.
- Once it gets hot enough, add 1 TSP mustard seeds and lt them crackle and pop ina medium flame.
- Add 1 tbsp chana dal and 1 tsp urad dal. Fry for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly until they turn light golden brown.
- Add 2 tbsp peanuts. Fry until they become golden and crunchy. Be careful not to burn them.
5. Add 2 slit green chilies, 1 dry red chili, and ½ inch chopped ginger. Sauté for about 30 seconds.
6. Add 8–10 curry leaves carefully (they may splutter).
7. Sprinkle in ¼ tsp turmeric powder and a pinch of hing (asafoetida). Stir everything well to combine.
8. Keep the flame low and don’t let the spices burn.
- Add the masala to the cooled cooked rice to the pan with tempering.
2. Mix gently but thoroughly so all the rice grains are coated with the yellow turmeric-infused oil.
3. Add a bit more salt if needed (taste and adjust at this stage).
- Keep in mind to turn off the flame before adding lemon juice to the rice (as heating lemon juice can make it taste bitter).
- Squeeze 2-3 TSP of lemon juice over the rice equally on each portion.
3. Now, just mix the rice gently until the lemon juice gets distributed evenly all over the rice.
- Let the rice rest for around 5-10 minutes this helps in soaking the lemon taste in the rice and while serving it gives more flavor.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
Lemon rice is the kind of dish that proves you don’t need a complicated recipe to make something delicious. It’s tangy, aromatic, crunchy, and comforting — all at once. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or guests, this dish is bound to be a hit.
Try this recipe at home and bring a taste of South Indian comfort food to your plate. Let us know how it turned out or share your twist in the comments below!
Serving Tips:
you can serve lemon rice with the below given side dishes that taste more delicious
- Curd (yogurt) or raita
- Papad or banana chips
- South Indian pickle (mango, lime, or garlic)
- Fried or boiled egg (for extra protein)
- Plain dal or rasam
