• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Edible Garden

  • Popular Categories
    • Dal Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Egg Recipes
    • Indo-Chinese Recipes
    • Mushroom Recipes
  • Kerala Recipes
  • Chocolate
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
You are here: Home / South Indian Rice Recipes / Lemon Rice Recipe – South Indian Lemon Rice Recipe

Lemon Rice Recipe – South Indian Lemon Rice Recipe

November 23, 2015 51 Comments

Lemon rice always reminds me of train rides. I am sure some of you associate the two as well because in most cases, whenever we go on an overnight train journey, a small bundle of lemon rice wrapped in wilted banana leaf will be handed over to everyone. We have always had lemon rice with chuttaracha chammanthi, thick coconut chutney ground with smoked red chillies, and curd or raita.

Lemon Rice Recipe - South Indian Lemon Rice Recipe

I also have another distinct memory associated with lemon rice. One of eating it at a temple when I was very little. I forgot where or when but that was probably the best lemon rice I have ever tasted. It’s been ages since I have eaten from a temple but if I see it when I pass by, I am grabbing some!


For more authentic South Indian rice recipes, check out this puliogare recipe, thengai sadam (coconut rice), ellu sadam (sesame rice), and carrot rice recipe, an easy lunchbox dish perfect to make a day ahead too. 
On to the Lemon Rice Recipe now. 
Lemon Rice
Serves: 2-3
Preparation time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
4 cups cooked rice (leftovers work perfect)
3 tbsp raw peanuts
3/4 tsp turmeric powder
2-3 tbsp juice of lemon or lime
Salt to taste
For tempering:
2 tbsp gingelly oil / nallennai / sesame seed oil (Indian version)
2-3 red chillies torn into halves
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp chana dal / kadala paruppu
A generous pinch of hing / asafoetida / perungaayam
A few curry leaves
Chopped coriander leaves for garnishing (optional)
How to Make Lemon Rice:
1. Heat oil for tempering in a pan and add the peanuts. Roast until nicely browned. Drain and set aside. 
2. To the hot oil, add the ingredients for tempering. Take care not to burn the chillies. When the mustard seeds start to pop and the dal has turned a golden brown, add the turmeric powder and salt. Now add peanuts, mix well and remove from fire. 
3. Add cooked rice to the above mixture and mix well. Squeeze lime on the rice and mix again. Depending on the lime / lemon you use, the sourness will vary. Make sure you make it slightly more sour than you need it because when you let it sit for an hour or two, the rice will absorb the flavours. 
4. Garnish and serve.

Lemon Rice Recipe - South Indian Lemon Rice Recipe
Notes:
– Lemon rice is fantastic to carry with you on a trip. Wrap in banana leaves or pack it in your throwaway containers with some chuttaracha chammanthi and you are set! 
– The lemon rice tastes just fine when it turns cold but if serving at home, serve warm. 
Share This Recipe
  • Facebook0
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest199
  • Twitter
  • Google+0
  • Email
  • Print
199

By nags Filed Under: South Indian Rice Recipes, Tamil Recipes, Uncategorized

logo
Food Advertising by

Subscribe

for your weekly recipe fix.

Previous Post: « Sri Lankan Raw Mango Curry Recipe
Next Post: Thengai Sadam – How to Make Thengai Sadam (South Indian Coconut Rice Recipe) »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dr Rheena

    December 26, 2012 at 2:10 am

    This just turned out lovely! Reminds me of my lunch days during pre u in chennai…all we ate every lunch was coconut rice/ tomato rice/ lemon rice / curd rice! Delish!!

    Reply
  2. Marc vm

    February 20, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Just tried the recipe. Super taste!

    Reply
  3. Nags

    January 15, 2011 at 1:29 am

    So cool, thank you Val. Glad you like the lemon rice recipe!

    Reply
  4. Val

    January 14, 2011 at 3:48 pm

    Your lemon rice is super tasty! I am back for it and this time also taking the papaya burfi with me. Yummyumm! Thank you!

    Happy Pongal!

    Reply
  5. Anonymous

    August 4, 2010 at 1:43 am

    Amazing! I've watched my husband make these dishes before, but I've never been confident to try it myself.

    Well, stuck at home alone, I thought I'd give it shot.

    So tasty! I actually think this might be one of the tastiest dishes I've ever made by myself. Thanks so much for your simple (and not intimidating) instructions.

    – An American Learning to Cook Indian

    Reply
  6. Nags

    August 4, 2010 at 1:51 am

    Dear American learning to cook Indian, I am so glad the lemon rice recipe helped and thanks for letting me know that. Appreciate it! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Nirmal

    June 20, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    hi Admin,

    Tried to cook lemon rice today following urs step!
    Thanks. It was good!!

    Do you know/or have links to make puli kozhambu ?

    If so please share.

    Thanks,
    Learner/Beginner in art of cooking

    Reply
  8. Nags

    June 21, 2010 at 1:58 am

    Don't have puli kozhambu yet but here's the recipe link for easy vathal kozhambu, you can try that! https://www.cookingandme.com/2008/10/easy-vathal-kuzhambu.html

    Reply
  9. Preeti

    June 19, 2010 at 11:45 pm

    I just made my first batch of your lemon rice today!! I'm excited to eat it! 🙂

    Reply
  10. Nags

    June 20, 2010 at 12:23 am

    oooh , waiting to see how the lemon rice turned out, preeti 🙂

    Reply
  11. Happy cook

    April 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    I had never had lemon rice untill i made them few days back and i loved it.
    I love your brighter colour in the rice, not thinking aobut the rice i am getting hungry.

    Reply
  12. Kitchen Flavours

    April 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    Oh wow awesome presentation…..I love the sour taste of lemon in rice…Looks droolworthy….

    Reply
  13. RAKS KITCHEN

    April 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    He hee,I was about to ask you "Don't you fell in love with those bowls,u did presented the same for past two posts..:D"
    Indeed it makes the Lemon rice looking divine! Bright color u hav got!

    I remember the same trips,where ever we go,my mom used to prepare like this and also tamarind rice and curd rice with same coconut thogayal,which u call it as chuttaracha chammanthi!!
    Will try sending in some entries for the event soon!

    Reply
  14. Nags

    April 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    yes, the peanuts are what attract me to lemon rice too 🙂

    Reply
  15. Preethi

    April 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    I just found this blog and I i think I'm going to be reading it a lot 🙂
    You have a lot of interesting recipes.Thank you for sharing them.
    P

    Reply
  16. Nags

    April 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    Hehe you guys are SO mature 😀

    Reply
  17. Veggie Food Journal

    April 1, 2010 at 1:24 pm

    I'm just back from a small weekend trip to Mysore and had lemon rice there that was prepared by my granny.Her recipe was very similar to yours. Love the peanuts in it.

    Reply
  18. Preethi

    February 9, 2010 at 11:27 pm

    I just found this blog and I i think I'm going to be reading it a lot 🙂
    You have a lot of interesting recipes.Thank you for sharing them.
    P

    Reply
  19. sra

    May 27, 2009 at 5:09 am

    I knew someone who said her family would add boiled eggs to lemon rice, even on journeys!
    Temple prasadams have a way of being tasty!

    Reply
  20. Sakshi

    May 27, 2009 at 2:31 am

    oh yum yum yum…I almost forgot this one..can you believe it?? this country is surely giving me amnesia and am wondering what this SJ is doing on your blog breaking copyright laws of N??
    psst loved your coconut bowl and sheesh I didn’t notice it too in the previous posts…

    Reply
  21. delhibelle

    May 27, 2009 at 12:56 am

    lemon rice in banana leaves in train journeys..truly the stuff that makes wonderful memmories!
    Beautiful pics

    Reply
  22. Kalyani

    May 26, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    great pictures & delicious lemon rice nags …..

    Reply
  23. SJ

    May 26, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    Now do you know why I want to beat up N and S? See how they bully me…

    Reply
  24. Soma

    May 26, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    I have never had rice in wilted banana leaves in train & I so want to have it. It sounds like a charm:-) with nostalgia. We love lemon rice & most of the time our left over gets converted to this.

    Reply
  25. Nags

    May 27, 2009 at 2:35 am

    Hehe you guys are SO mature 😀

    Reply
  26. Nandini Vishwanath

    May 26, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    WTH, now SJ copies my comments also?

    But I love lemon rice. I love it coz its tangy. And the colour! Ya, whatte colour!

    Reply
  27. Bong Mom

    May 26, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    I always have Lemon Rice or tamarind Rice when we go to the temple or to the Udupi restaurants. The color of this rice looks perfect

    Reply
  28. SJ

    May 26, 2009 at 10:18 am

    The 2nd pic looks very good!! As N says “Whatte a colour” !! My mom adds onions to to this.

    Reply
  29. Fahrenheit 350°

    May 26, 2009 at 5:01 am

    I am obsessed with lemons! This is wonderful!

    Reply
  30. Home Cooked Oriya Food

    May 26, 2009 at 2:20 am

    Simple recipe but awesome presentation. My friend also makes such tasty lemon rice…

    Reply
  31. Aparna V

    May 26, 2009 at 7:51 am

    Total comfort food. Lemon Rice is an all time favorite. My mom used to always make this with cashews instead of peanuts. Cashews for Lemon Rice and peanuts was for Puliyogare (Tamarind rice)..and I tend to follow the same 🙂 But looking at your lovely pics, the peanuts, do look tempting. Will try it the next time. Thansk for posting !

    Reply
  32. Sonu

    May 25, 2009 at 10:49 pm

    Wow…simple beauty! We share same recipe somewhat different method and ingredients. Yours rice bowl look so decent Nags.:)

    Reply
  33. jayasri

    May 25, 2009 at 9:14 pm

    hey, Nags why do people post this recipe and make me feel that I have to eat it right now!, It’s my dream food !, believe it or not all through my pregnency whoever asked me what do you want to eat ? i said chitranna, my MIL used to complain to my hubby because i ate three much of it!, I really have lot of stories when it comes to cinema (chitra) rice…, that’s what we called it some times…, beautiful clicks nag i love them…, looks gorgeous

    Reply
  34. Kalai

    May 25, 2009 at 8:30 pm

    Wow… Lemon rice always reminds me of going on long trips and taking lemon rice with us to eat during the journey. Looks great!

    Reply
  35. Ushanandini

    May 25, 2009 at 5:00 pm

    Lemon rice is gorgeous! It looks perfect!

    Reply
  36. Mahimaa's kitchen

    May 25, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    your lemon rice is making me hungry…the bowls are so cute. nice way to serve rice in this bowl.

    Reply
  37. meeso

    May 25, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    I always love to see lemon rice, it’s a pretty dish!

    Reply
  38. Pavithra

    May 25, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    Its really tempting nags.. Ur photography rocks… Always keep starring at ur pictures..keep it up.

    Reply
  39. My Experiments with Cooking

    May 25, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    I forgot to mention,it’s HB 🙂

    Reply
  40. My Experiments with Cooking

    May 25, 2009 at 1:53 pm

    Third pic looks so good.I love lemon rice for it’s simpleness. Oh ye I did notice your shell bowls 😀 By the way, check out my food blog. It’s in the making still though.

    Reply
  41. Chitra

    May 25, 2009 at 10:41 am

    i never tried adding peanuts..My mom used to add..Next time i will..As usual, great pics:)

    Reply
  42. sharmila

    May 25, 2009 at 8:03 am

    Love the look of that lemon rice! 🙂

    Reply
  43. Veggie Food Journal

    May 25, 2009 at 7:58 am

    I’m just back from a small weekend trip to Mysore and had lemon rice there that was prepared by my granny.Her recipe was very similar to yours. Love the peanuts in it.

    Reply
  44. Srivalli

    May 25, 2009 at 7:45 am

    Great pictures nags..

    Reply
  45. Kitchen Flavours

    May 25, 2009 at 7:25 am

    Oh wow awesome presentation…..I love the sour taste of lemon in rice…Looks droolworthy….

    Reply
  46. Lena Rashmin Raj

    May 25, 2009 at 7:17 am

    woww..its looking superb…perfect in color..and i just loved the presentation Nags…that serving vessel is superb…i hav to get one like that.. 🙂

    Reply
  47. Happy cook

    May 25, 2009 at 7:12 am

    I had never had lemon rice untill i made them few days back and i loved it.
    I love your brighter colour in the rice, not thinking aobut the rice i am getting hungry.

    Reply
  48. Shreya

    May 25, 2009 at 7:09 am

    Hi Naga, whenever I make lemon rice at home, R always says they used to pack it on their annual train journey during vacation. And yes, I always make this with leftover rice, same recipe:D I used to go to the Hanuman temple in Motinagar where they served lemon rice on Saturdays, I looked forward to it:-) In Singapore, the Murugan temple in Jurong also served a very nice rice variety for prasad. I so wanted to send this in for the event, but now I will post something else:-)

    Reply
  49. Nags

    May 25, 2009 at 8:04 am

    yes, the peanuts are what attract me to lemon rice too 🙂

    Reply
  50. RAKS KITCHEN

    May 25, 2009 at 7:44 am

    He hee,I was about to ask you “Don’t you fell in love with those bowls,u did presented the same for past two posts..:D”
    Indeed it makes the Lemon rice looking divine! Bright color u hav got!

    I remember the same trips,where ever we go,my mom used to prepare like this and also tamarind rice and curd rice with same coconut thogayal,which u call it as chuttaracha chammanthi!!
    Will try sending in some entries for the event soon!

    Reply
  51. Nags

    May 25, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Shreya – do send me your version if you can’t think of anything else to make 🙂

    Lena – These are coconut shell bowls I picked up from Bali. Honestly, I think its the lemon rice that’s making them look good cuz the last two recipes I posted were also clicked in the same bowl and you didn’t notice, did you? 😀

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello!

I am Nags, the face behind Edible Garden, a food and recipes website for the busy (and sometimes lazy!) cook since 2007. My recipes are meant to be quick yet healthy and delicious - Nothing fancy, nothing too difficult. Follow Me On Instagram for real-time food and life updates.

ADS

logo
Food Advertising by

Popular Recipes

Instant Oats Idli Recipe with Rava, Step by Step
Kerala plum cake recipe
Butter Chicken Recipe, Indian Butter Chicken Masala Recipe
dosa recipe-how to make dosa
pressure cooker eggless sponge cake recipe (no oven cake)
vegetable pulao recipe
Eggless No-Bake Mango Cheesecake Recipe Step by Step
garlic pull-apart rolls recipe, eggless
paneer butter masala recipe restaurant style

Browse Older Recipes

Translate

Copyright © 2022