Lemon Rice (Chitranna)

 

Dear friends,

     Today I am here to share with you a famous south Indian delicacy " Lemon Rice".This is a South Indian staple, in tamil lemon rice in known as 'elumichai saadam". In Karnataka Lemon Rice known as "Chitranna". Lemon Rice is especially popular in South indian state karnataka, where it has become a part of the daily diet. So let's start making lemon rice without wasting anymore time.

Ingredients:-

1. Basmati Rice- 2 cups.

2. Oil- 2-1/2 tbsp.

3. Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp.

4. Bengal Gram(chana dal)- 2tsp.

5. Skinned black Gram (urad dal)- 1tsp.

6. Curry leaves- 2 springs.

7. Raw peanuts- 3 tbsp.

8. Cashew nuts- 4tbsp.

9. Dry red chilies- 2(halves).

10. Mustard seeds- 1tsp.

11. Ginger- 1/2 tbsp(finely chopped).

12. Asafoetida- A pinch.

13. Salt-To taste.

14. Lemon juice- 3tbsp.

15. Lemon zest of - 1 lemon.

16. Kaffir lime leaf- 1( halved).

Preparation Method:-

Step 1- First wash Basmati Rice thoroughly. Drain water completely. Then cook the rice fully but make sure rice shouldn't be mushy. Once rice cooked completely. Transfer into a wide mouth vessel. Set aside until cool down completely.

Step 2- Now heat a pan on medium flame. Add 1-1/2 tbsp of oil. Once oil became well heated. Fry raw peanuts and cashew nuts one after another until became golden and crispy. Take out into a bowl once get the texture and set aside.

Step 3- Next add 1 more tbsp of oil in the same pan. Let the oil became heated well. Now add mustard seeds, Bengal Gram, black Gram. Fry on medium flame until became arometic add golden.

Step 4- Now add dry red chilies, Curry leaves, green chilies. Saute until curry leaves became Crispy. Don't over fry then the ginger will became bitter. 

Step 5- Add Asafoetida, Turmeric powder, salt. Give a quick mix and add 4tbsp of water. Stir well. 

Step 6- Once the lentils will became little softer and water will evaporate turn off the flame. Transfer this spice mixture over the cooked rice.

Step 7- Mix gently, else rice will be broken. Taste once if required can add more salt at this stage. 

Step 8- Now add lemon juice, lemon zest, kaffir lime leaf and mix well gently one more time.

Step 9- Finally garnish lemon rice with fried peanuts and cashews.

Step 10- Now it's ready to serve with Yogurt or pickle. Can also have papad with it.😊