Lemon Rice | Chitrannam | Nimmakaya Annam

Lemon Rice or Chitrannam -- This is a classic simple South Indian dish which is had on a day-to-day basis.  It is made during festivals too.  The lemon juice adds a real zing to the rice.  You can make lemon rice in a jiffy, especially when you are in a hurry in the mornings.  Lemon rice can be made with leftover rice too..

Looking out for more classic South Indian rice varieties, here are a few that you can try out - Tamarind rice or Puliyodharai, Tomato rice, Coconut rice, curd rice.

Ingredients:

• Rice  - 1 cup
• Lemon - 2 medium sized
• Green Chillies - 8
• Red Chillies - 2
• Bengal Gram Dal - 2 tsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
• Ground nuts - 50g
• Curry Leaves - few
• Salt - As required
• Oil

Lemon Rice With Fried Potatoes

How To Prepare Lemon Rice:

• Cook rice and allow it to cool in a broad basin.
• Squeeze the lemon, remove the seeds from the juice and keep it aside.
• Heat oil in kadai and add mustard seeds.
• Once they start spluttering, add bengal gram dal, red chillies and cut green chillies and fry till the dal turns light brown.
• Add ground nuts and fry for a minute.
• Add turmeric powder and switch off.
• Add the mixture to the rice and mix well until everything blends well.
• Now add squeezed lemon without seeds and mix well.  Adjust salt if required.

Notes:

•  Cashews & coriander leaves can be added for garnish.
• If you want to make it more spicy, grind a few green chillies to fine paste and fry along with the seasoning.
• DO NOT use basmati rice to prepare chitrannam.