Lemon Rice

Left over steamed rice from last night? No problem at all. In just few minutes you can make it into one of the most delicious flavoured rice dishes.This was such a staple in our family when we were kids as there always was left over rice from the night before at home and Mom would make this in the morning for our lunch boxes.

Having said that, there is a devotional side to this dish. This is made in many South Indian Temple kitchens as an offering to God and then distributed among all the devotees who visit the temple for the rest of the day by the priest as they consider that God has blessed the offering. Temple style Lemon Rice always tasted better than home made one. I still do not know the reason why. This dish is also made almost for every festival  in South Indian homes.So, I prepared it last night as it was Diwali festival and my friends who tried it for first time thought it was absolutely delicious.

 Also, I would strongly recommend to serve this rice as an accompaniment with sea food. Be it fried fillets or grilled prawns or even a seafood curry with coconut milk. This can also be your summer rice salad when served cold.
Here is the recipe for 4 sides.
Steamed rice- 250 gms
Lemon juice- 2 medium lemons
For tempering
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Mustard seeds- 1 tsp
Dry red chillies- broken in halves- 2
Green chillies-cut in qaurters-2
Curry leaves- as many as you like
peanuts- 50 gms
yellow split peas(optional)- 1 tbsp
Ginger chopped-25 gms
Oil- 50 ml
salt -to taste( if you cooked rice in salted water then do not add more salt to tempering)
Method
-heat the oil in a shallow frying pan on a medium heat
- add mustard seeds and allow them to crackle
-add ginger, red chillies, turmeric, green chillies and yellow split peas and quickly stir fry them for a couple of minutes.
- add curry leaves and peanuts and mix them with rest of tempering spices and let them cook for another 2 mins.
-turn the heat off and pour in the lemon juice and give it a quick stir.
-add the tempered mix to cold rice and mix well.
-taste and see if you need more salt, if you do then dissolve a little bit of salt in water and sprinkle this water over rice.
-mix well again and if you want to have it hot while serving,cover the dish with a foil and put in the oven at 100 degrees C for about 10 mins.
That's it!!! It's all done and ready to eat. I told you, it's really quick and easy. Enjoy!!