Name: Lemon Rice (Chitranna)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Indian (South Indian)
Ingredients: 3 cups cooked, cooled rice; 3 tbsp oil; 1 tsp mustard seeds; 1 tsp chana dal (split chickpeas); 1 tsp urad dal (split black gram); 2 tbsp peanuts; 2 dried red chillies; 10–12 curry leaves; 2 green chillies, slit; 1 tsp grated ginger; ½ tsp turmeric; Juice of 1½–2 lemons; Salt to taste; Coriander to garnish

Lemon rice with peanuts, curry leaves and turmeric — Photo: Hrishikes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lemon rice, or chitranna, is a zesty South Indian classic built on a fragrant tempering of mustard seeds, curry leaves, lentils and turmeric, finished with fresh lemon juice. Quick, tangy and refreshing, it's a beloved lunchbox and travel food — and a brilliant way to use leftover rice.

Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Rice: Cooked, cooled basmati or short-grain rice

Method

Tick a step to mark it done.

Step 1: Heat oil and add mustard seeds; when they pop, add the chana dal, urad dal and peanuts and fry until golden.
Step 2: Add the dried red chillies, curry leaves, green chillies and ginger; sauté briefly.
Step 3: Stir in the turmeric and take the pan off the heat for a moment so it doesn't burn.
Step 4: Add the cooked rice and salt, and toss gently to coat evenly.
Step 5: Turn off the heat and stir through the lemon juice (adding it off the heat keeps it bright).
Step 6: Garnish with coriander.