This Lemon rice recipe is a delicious side dish to serve with any main dish.
The South Indian yellow rice can be served with Indian as well as Western fish, meat and vegetable meals.
Did you know that it’s rather easy to make lemon rice from scratch?
When you visit Goa, the first thing that you do is to take around to the beach and chill in one of the beach shacks.
You check out one of the sticky, salty menu cards and discover in the side dishes something called lemon rice.
It doesn’t sound fancy but if you are a serious lemon or lime lover like me, then you should not miss on this lemon rice recipe!
What is Lemon Rice?
Lemon rice is a flavorful rice side dish which goes well with any kinds of main course meals.
However, lemon rice goes best with seafood meals.
My husband introduced me to this lemon rice recipe by preparing and serving delicious and fresh stir-fried prawns with the lemony rice.
My husband’s aunt is from Kerala in South India, so she was the one to introduce the lemon rice to the family during festivities.
It quickly gained fame as you can see!
This Lemon Rice recipe is a South Indian specialty.
Lemon Rice ingredients
The citrus flavors in this lemon rice recipe will add some aroma to your rice.
The dark mustard seeds are an essential addition too, which give a comforting nutty flavor to the dish and some texture as well.
Mustard seeds are healthy too and don’t necessarily turn the rice dish spicy.
Another great super healthy addition is turmeric, which might be known to some as Curcuma yellow spice.
I have written about turmeric before.
This spice is a very powerful antiseptic dried and powdered root, which is essential in Indian cuisine.
Turmeric gives this lemon rice recipe, not just a gorgeous hue but also a well-rounded taste experience, and together with the mustard seeds and lemon juice, it is a brilliant flavor experience, which anybody should experience!
Tip: You can also add Cashews or Peanuts to your lemon rice!
That’s how authentic lemon rice is prepared.
The lemon adds a nice tangy addictive touch to the side dish, and it’s going to be your new favorite go-to side dish at home.
Useful tools to make lemon rice: 🔪
- Spice Glass Jar Set – To store your spices properly. More hygienic and easy to find and ultimately you will use the healthy spices more frequently. That way you won’t forget your spices at the back of your cupboard!
- Deep Dish Pan – To prepare the lemon rice easily. That way the spices get cooked evenly and you can mix the rice properly without making a mess.
- Bamboo Spatula to stir-fry – I love this spatula and use it very frequently in my cooking as you can see. It’s sturdy, it’s light, it gets clean easily. Even annoying turmeric stains come out of the spatula!
original post picture 2014
Related to the Lemon rice recipe 🍚
Dear Reader, with what are you planning to serve the lemon rice?
The post Lemon rice recipe was first published on the 27 th December 2014 and has been enhanced and updated ever since.
Lemon Rice – Fragrant Rice Recipe
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Basmati Rice
- 2 Cups water
- 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon Brown Mustard Seeds dark variety
- 1 Tablespoon Ginger + Garlic *see Notes
- 1 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder aka Curcuma spice
- to taste Salt
- pinch Pepper
- juice of one 1 Lemon
Instructions
- Wash the rice and cook until done. Basmati rice usually takes around 12 minutes to cook, follow the package instructions. Strain so that no water is left
- In a pan heat up the olive oil and add the mustard seeds. Temper the mustard seeds – careful mustard seeds jump up – until you get the nutty mustard seed aroma.
- Add the ginger garlic paste, the turmeric powder, salt, and pepper and stir fry for another minute or two.
- Take from the heat and let cool for a few minutes before adding and mixing in the lemon juice.
- Pour the whole mixture over the cooked rice and mix well. Serve hot.
Notes
- Use Ginger Garlic paste as it mixes into the dish. You can also buy the paste. OR chop 1/3 ginger and 2/3 garlic fine and use that instead.
Rebecca says
Thank you thank you thank you!!! My boyfriend and I have become addicted to the lemon rice at a nearby restaurant…. But restaurant food is a quite pricey addiction, so I decided to see if I could find a recipe that matches the one served there. And here it is!!! It’s slightly different, but a very near match. You’ve saved us! I’m definitely bookmarking your website.
Helene Dsouza says
Hi Rebecca, thanks for the feedback.
I’m glad to read that you enjoy the lemon rice as much as we do. 🙂
Nelma Jayaneththi says
Delicious lemon rice!
Helene Dsouza says
Thanks for your feedback 🙂
mjskitchen says
I can think of a lot of entrees with which I’d serve this wonderful rice. Thanks for sharing this post because it’s a rice I’ve always wanted to make.
mjskitchen says
Thanks for the link to my lemon butter! Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend!
Healthy World Cuisine says
Helene, absolutely love your video and your relaxing voice. So nice. Lemon rice is fabulous side dish to so many recipe. Can see this on our menu plan this week. Sharing, of course!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
This sounds incredible – I need to try! I love asian rice dishes but only ever steam mine at home!
Helene Dsouza says
You can also steam your rice first instead of boiling it to make this lemon rice. 🙂
Colleen says
Next time I cook rice, this is what I am making. Looks and sounds delicious!
Elizabeth says
That sounds utterly heavenly! We eat a lot of rice in our house so I’ll have to try this soon!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
This rice looks and sounds delicious. It was be so good with seafood and chicken…the perfect side for sure.
Anu says
Don’t you think mustard seeds add to the tanginess of the dish? I think so. We add it to our usual breakfast preparations like Poha and Upma that does not have any other spices and it lends a tangy taste to them.
South Indians can make rice with anything – Tomato, Eggplant, Okra or even mix of vegetables. Its what they call one pot cooking with everything there. Simple to cook and easy to digest.
Veena Azmanov says
Is lemon rice very Indian. I always loved lemon rice when mom made it but most people are surprised of the mention of lemon rice.
I love how turmeric makes it nice and yellow. My kids call it yellow rice!! I usually add a few peas to my lemon rice.. just for colors!! Love the flavor of mustard in this.. You making me hungry Helen..
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Yum!! Lemon rice sounds amazing!! I can’t wait to try this
Sissi says
I knew there was turmeric too! I love every single ingredient in this rice, so even though I have no idea how tangy lemon tastes with the rest, I’m sure I’d love it!
Victor Aguilar says
Hi Helena, i´ve never tried this recipe and i did it today because i found you. It´s delicious. I love the Indian food and this is perfect to do at home. Easy and very testy. Thank you Helen.
Helene Dsouza says
Glad to hear you enjoyed it 🙂
PolaM says
I love lemon rice, my version is just boiled rice with lemon juice and maybe a bit of thyme, but I think I will try experiment with yours: sounds delicious!
Kathy says
Wow, This is something I have to try! It looks and sounds fabulous! Happy New Year, Helene
Mary Bostow says
THis looks so good and now i’m thinking about how i can make and enjoy it! Thank you!
Ash-foodfashionparty says
Helen, A VERY VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Have a great year!
I completely get it with the sticky menu..:)
We love lemon rice, a staple among South Indians. You’ve done a great job, it looks good.
Hugs.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
This looks SO, SO good!
Christie says
I love the addition of lemon in this rice. It will be so delicious with the warm spices.
Ramona says
Looks great!! Wishing all the best to you this New Year! May 2015 be a wonderful year for you. 🙂
Shibi@FlavzCorner says
Lemon rice is one of the easy fix for me. Pairing it with stir fried prawns sounds tempting. I can see why Goa is famous for it seafood delicacies.
Kitchen Belleicious says
oh I can just smell the fragrance as I type. It looks beautiful with the bright yellow color and sounds so refreshing and flavorful. what a wonderful side dish to so many things! Hope you are having a happy holiday season and here is to a happy new year!
padma says
It is such a staple food in south India…will definitely try this version Helena!!…Btw.. it also tastes great with a spicy chicken fry!!…You can check out my recent post on south indian style chicken fry:)
Anita Menon says
I love lemon rice. It is quite a staple in my home. I usually make it with leftover rice.
It would be great if you could share the spicy goan prawn recipe too.
Simone says
I had never heard of lemon rice before but you now got me intrigued. Sounds delicious (big lemon lover here too) and definitely will give this a go. Sounds more like a summer dish though so might wait a bit for warmer weather….:)
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
You cook the perfect rice, Helene. My basmati rice never looks this fluffy and good.
Helene Dsouza says
To be honest I like sticky rice, it’s comfort food. 🙂 But fluffy rice is more common here around.
cheri says
Helene, love how simple this rice dish is, love lemons. Pinned!!!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
I’ve never heard of lemon rice, Helene but good lord it looks and sounds delicious. I’m definitely going to make these soon. Yum.
PIYALI says
For me Lemon rice has been like a huge comfort food tucking into it maybe with only a bowl of Coconut chutney. Your story of how you were introduced to Lemon Rice is very fascinating and sweet. Never tried Lemon Rice with recheado prawns. Will surely try this combination soon.
Nagi@RecipeTinEats says
Oooh!! Lemon rice! Never tried it, never even heard of it (are you horrified??!!) but I am DEFINATELY trying it!! I love love LOVE the flavourings in this!