🍋 Lemon Rice

(South Indian Style)

Elumichai Sadham — bright, comforting, everyday

Spice Level: 🌶️ (mild)
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 15 mins | Serves: 3
Calories (approx): 380 kcal per serving

🍛 One Pot, Thousand Stories

🌿 Introduction

Lemon rice is sunlight in a bowl — tangy, fragrant, and quietly energizing.

Made with leftover rice and a gentle tempering, it’s a dish that belongs

as much to busy mornings as to temple prasadams.

“Some dishes don’t try to impress — they simply refresh”

Lemon Rice

Photo by Stirred By Spice

📝 Ingredients

Main Base

  • 2 cups cooked rice (preferably short-grain or sona masuri, cooled)

  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)

  • Salt to taste (about ¾ tsp)

Tempering

  • 2 tbsp oil (sesame oil preferred)

  • 1 tsp mustard seeds

  • 1 tsp urad dal

  • 1 tbsp chana dal

  • 2 dried red chilies (broken)

  • 10–12 curry leaves

  • ¼ tsp asafoetida (hing)

Add in's

  • ¼ cup raw peanuts

  • ½ tsp turmeric powder

  • 1 green chili, slit (optional)

🍽️ Instructions

  • Prepare Rice
    Spread cooked rice on a wide plate. Allow it to cool completely so grains stay separate.

  • Roast Peanuts
    Heat oil in a pan. Add peanuts and fry until golden. Remove and set aside.

  • Build the Tempering
    In the same oil, add mustard seeds. Once they splutter, add urad dal, chana dal, red chilies, curry leaves, green chili, and hing. Fry until dals turn golden.

  • Season
    Add turmeric powder and turn off heat immediately to avoid bitterness.

  • Combine
    Add cooled rice, salt, roasted peanuts, and lemon juice. Mix gently until evenly coated.

  • Rest & Serve
    Let the rice rest for 5 minutes before serving for flavors to settle.

🍷 Optional Serving Notes

Serve with plain curd or coconut chutney

Pairs beautifully with South Indian Fish fry ,papad or banana chips

Ideal for lunchboxes and picnics

💬 Soulful Note

Often packed for journeys, temple visits, or quiet weekday lunches,

lemon rice is food that travels well —

steady, unfussy, and reassuring.

📚 Cook’s Wisdom / FAQs

📚Cook's Wisdom:

  • Why cooled rice?
    Warm rice absorbs oil unevenly and turns mushy.

  • Too sour?
    Balance with a pinch of sugar or extra peanuts.

  • Oil choice matters
    Sesame oil gives authentic South Indian flavor.

📊 Nutrition (Per Serving — Approx.)

  • Calories 380

  • Protein 9g

  • Carbs 60g

  • Fat 12g

  • Fiber 5g

🍃🌶🍃 The Bottom Line

Lemon rice is proof that simplicity can still feel complete — a dish that wakes the palate and steadies the day.

A gentle place to begin..

You don’t need everything at once.

If you’re new to Indian cooking and want to feel more confident, I’ve shared a FREE Spice Guide to help you

understand flavors without memorizing anything.

🧡 Meet the Heart Behind the Spice

Maya Shetty – Stirred By Spice Author Photo

Hi, I’m Maya Shetty — cook, storyteller, and spice lover.

Through Stirred By Spice, I share recipes that warm both the kitchen and the heart — where simple ingredients and warm flavors turn everyday meals into moments of connection.

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