{"id":"a07ec43b-ac8d-4645-910a-f598c08b6253","url":"https://recipestripper.com/recipes/a07ec43b-ac8d-4645-910a-f598c08b6253","source_url":"https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/lemon-rice/","title":"Lemon Rice Recipe (Chitranna)","description":"Lemon Rice, also known as Chitranna or Nimmakaya Pulihora, is a South Indian rice dish made with cooked rice, lemon juice, nuts, herbs, and spices. The tempering and the lemon juice adds a nice tang as well as crunch, making it a simple and flavorful rice dish.","servings":3,"servings_text":"3","prep_time":"PT20M","cook_time":"PT5M","total_time":"PT25M","image_url":"https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/lemon-rice-2.jpg","ingredients":[{"text":"1 cup rice ((heaped) or 3 to 4 cups cooked rice)","item":"rice ((heaped) or 3 to 4 cups cooked rice)","quantity":1,"unit":"cup"},{"text":"1.75 to 2 cups water","item":"water","quantity":1.75,"quantity_max":2,"unit":"cup"},{"text":"¼ teaspoon salt (or add as required)","item":"salt","quantity":0.25,"unit":"tsp","preparation":"or add as required"},{"text":"1.5 to 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or add as required)","item":"lemon juice","quantity":1.5,"quantity_max":2,"unit":"tbsp","preparation":"or add as required"},{"text":"1 teaspoon mustard seeds","item":"mustard seeds","quantity":1,"unit":"tsp"},{"text":"1 teaspoon urad dal ((spilt and skinned black gram))","item":"urad dal ((spilt and skinned black gram))","quantity":1,"unit":"tsp"},{"text":"2 dry red chilies (- preferably seeds removed)","item":"dry red chilies","quantity":2,"preparation":"- preferably seeds removed"},{"text":"1 teaspoon chopped green chilies (or 1 to 2 green chillies - chopped)","item":"chopped green chilies","quantity":1,"unit":"tsp","preparation":"or 1 to 2 green chillies - chopped"},{"text":"12 to 15 curry leaves","item":"curry leaves","quantity":12,"quantity_max":15},{"text":"1 generous pinch asafoetida ((hing))","item":"generous pinch asafoetida ((hing))","quantity":1},{"text":"½ teaspoon turmeric powder","item":"turmeric powder","quantity":0.5,"unit":"tsp"},{"text":"1 tablespoon cashews (- halved or chopped (optional))","item":"cashews (- halved or chopped (optional))","quantity":1,"unit":"tbsp"},{"text":"¼ cup peanuts (- optional)","item":"peanuts","quantity":0.25,"unit":"cup","preparation":"- optional"},{"text":"3 tablespoons sesame oil ((gingelly oil) or any neutral oil)","item":"sesame oil ((gingelly oil) or any neutral oil)","quantity":3,"unit":"tbsp"},{"text":"salt (as required)","item":"salt","preparation":"as required"}],"instructions":[{"number":1,"text":"Rinse rice grains a couple of times and soak in enough water for 20 to 30 minutes.","section":"Soaking rice"},{"number":2,"text":"Then drain all the water from the soaked rice.","section":"Soaking rice"},{"number":3,"text":"Cook rice in a 2-litre or 3-litre pressure cooker with salt and 1.75 to 2 cups water for 2 to 3 whistles or 8 to 10 minutes on medium to medium-high heat.","section":"Stove-top pressure cooking"},{"number":4,"text":"When the pressure settles down on its own in the cooker, remove the lid. Remove the cooked rice in a plate or in a bowl.","section":"Stove-top pressure cooking"},{"number":5,"text":"1 heaped cup rice will yield 3 to 4 cups rice. This will depend on the type and quality of rice.","section":"Stove-top pressure cooking"},{"number":6,"text":"Let the cooked rice become warm or cool at room temperature","section":"Stove-top pressure cooking"},{"number":7,"text":"Take rice, salt and 2 cups water in a pan. Cover and simmer until all the water has been absorbed and rice grains are tender and fluffy.","section":"Cooking rice a pan or pot"},{"number":8,"text":"Do keep a check when rice is simmering and if the water has dried leaving the rice grains undercooked, add some more hot water and continue to cook.","section":"Cooking rice a pan or pot"},{"number":9,"text":"Place the cooked rice in a tray or bowl to cool it.","section":"Cooking rice a pan or pot"},{"number":10,"text":"Add rice, salt and 1 or 1.25 cups water (depending on rice type and quality) in the steel insert of a 6 quart IP.","section":"Instant pot method"},{"number":11,"text":"Pressure cook for 5 minutes on high. Do a quick pressure release after 5 minutes.","section":"Instant pot method"},{"number":12,"text":"Empty the cooked rice in a plate or bowl to cool at room temperature.","section":"Instant pot method"},{"number":13,"text":"In a small frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil. First fry the peanuts until crunchy and then set them aside.","section":"Frying nuts"},{"number":14,"text":"In the same oil, then fry cashews until golden. Remove and set aside.","section":"Frying nuts"},{"number":15,"text":"Now add 1 tablespoon sesame oil in the same pan. Keep the flame to a low.","section":"Frying nuts"},{"number":16,"text":"Add the mustard seeds and let them crackle. Once the mustard seeds begin to crackle, add the urad dal.","section":"Frying nuts"},{"number":17,"text":"Fry until the urad dal turns golden. Fry everything on a low flame, so that the lentils do not burn.","section":"Frying nuts"},{"number":18,"text":"Then add the red chilies, green chilies (chopped) and curry leaves. Sauté for a few seconds until the red chilies change color.","section":"Frying nuts"},{"number":19,"text":"Switch off the heat and add the asafoetida and turmeric powder. Mix very well","section":"Frying nuts"},{"number":20,"text":"Immediately pour this tempering mixture on cooked and cooled rice. Add the fried peanuts and cashews, lemon juice, salt. Mix very well.","section":"Making lemon rice"},{"number":21,"text":"Keep the bowl or pan covered for the flavors to blend for 4 to 5 minutes.","section":"Making lemon rice"},{"number":22,"text":"Then serve the lemon rice.","section":"Making lemon rice"},{"number":23,"text":"While serving you can choose to garnish chitranna with some chopped coriander leaves (cilantro).","section":"Making lemon rice"},{"number":24,"text":"Serve lemon rice with pappadums or with a side vegetable salad or even coconut chutney also goes great with this dish.","section":"Serving suggestions"},{"number":25,"text":"It can also be packed in the tiffin box. As lemon rice can be served at room temperature, it also makes a great picnic lunch item. It’s a light dish and you can have it as a light lunch or breakfast too.","section":"Serving suggestions"},{"number":26,"text":"Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a day. Leftover rice is not good for health, so I suggest to finish the lemon rice in a day.","section":"Storing"}],"date_published":"2026-10-30T23:57:16.132434+00:00","date_modified":"2026-10-30T23:57:16.132434+00:00"}