Back to Indian
Indian 15 min Easy
Lemon Rice
Bright, tangy South Indian rice with a nutty tempering.
Origin & Story
Lemon rice (chitranna) is a zesty South Indian favourite, a quick way to transform leftover rice with a fragrant tempering and a squeeze of lemon.
Main Spices & Their Role
Mustard seeds
Popped in oil for the tempering.
Turmeric
Tints the rice a sunny yellow.
Curry leaves
Add aroma and depth.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- Handful peanuts
- 8 curry leaves
- 1 green chilli
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp oil
- Salt
Method
- 01
Heat oil and pop mustard seeds with peanuts, curry leaves and chilli.
- 02
Add turmeric and stir once.
- 03
Fold in the cooked rice and salt.
- 04
Turn off the heat and stir through the lemon juice.
- 05
Toss well and serve.
Veg & Vegan Alternatives
Vegetarian
This dish is already vegetarian.
Vegan
Already vegetarian and vegan — cook in oil (not ghee/butter) to keep it fully plant-based.