Lemon Rice

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them says John Shirley. Sometimes, after a hectic long 5 day week a weekend is much like a treat. Time to relax, time to do little extra work, time to spend more time with your loved ones, time for vegetable shopping and much more. But when rain spills your plans then, weekend too becomes dull and boring. Last few days where very rainy in Bangalore and planning an outing is much difficult. So with no plans of outing or anyone visiting my morning started getting up late. Who wants to be out of bed when it is raining cats and dogs in the morning hours? Just imagine laying in the bed with warm blanket wrapped, chill wind coming from the window gently touching your cheeks, hearing tip-tap sound of rain drops slowly sliding down your window pane giving you an exotic view of the branches of trees swinging and dancing to the tune of the silky rain drops……A warm cup of coffee and an good romantic novel is all that you need to feel the real luxury. Sometimes it’s really wonderful to treat yourself with real luxury….After pampering your scenes with the nature’s delight, them to pamper your taste buds with some yummy food.

Most of the times weekends call for brunch. Brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch; usually served in late morning. A perfect idea of brunch is to whip off a perfect meal in less time. I love to prepare jeera rice, dal fry and jeera-aloo to make a perfect brunch, but at times when I am running really late, simple lemon rice is a life saver. Lemon rice with papad makes an ideal brunch. Lemon rice is not only simple to make but also flavourful and filling. Scroll down to look at the recipe…..

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups rice, cooked and cooled
• 3-4 tbsp Lemon juice
• ¼ tbsp Turmeric powder
• 2-3 tbsp Penauts
• Salt

TEMPERING/TADKA:

• 1 tbsp Mustard Seeds
• 1 tbsp Jeera/Cumin seeds
• 1 tbsp Chana dal
• 1 tbsp Urad dal, optional
• 1 dry Red chilli
• 6-9 fresh Curry leaves
• Oil

PREPERATION:

• In a bowl mix rice, salt*, lemon juice and set aside.
• In a heavy bottom cooking vessel, add oil and when it gets heated up add one by one ingredient’s mentioned under tempering. When curry leaves start to change color add peanuts and fry for another 2-3 minutes.
• Now add turmeric powder and stir for 1 min (or till turmeric smell disappears).
• Turn the flame low and add lemon juice mixed rice. Gently stir till all the ingredients mix together. Cook covered for another 2 minutes and turn off the flame.
• Serve with your choice of papads.
• Last but not least add your 'love' to make the dish 'YUMMY'.

This lemon rice is in a last moment rush to participate in Meeta's Monthly Mingle event where the theme is Brunch. I was so hungry by the time I completed taking photos, I started indulging then and there, still camera hanging on my neck....so the below picture was the result of that....

*NOTE: If you are using salt while cooking rice then adjust in making lemon rice. Rice should be cooked as each grain should be soft and seperate. This lemon rice can also be made with leftover rice.