This Indian Lime/Lemon rice is so flavorful, it is very lightly spiced, sprinkled with fresh lime juice or lemon juice, and has a great crunch from the peanuts! This is a great way of using up your leftover white rice.
I remember from my childhood, we used to go on picnics every Sunday. It was so much fun.
My mom would pack up our lunch, we would sit under a tree somewhere along our drive and enjoy our lime rice with chicken or mutton fry. It was just a great combination!
All you need is some leftover white rice. I have actually tried it with brown rice and quinoa too, both options are good if you are more health-conscious.
Lime or Lemon??
The question is to use the juice of a lime or a lemon??
Honestly, I use lime most of the time, but that being said I have also tried it with lemon juice.
So in my opinion, both limes and lemons are fine to use, but when using a lemon I would add the juice of half a lemon first, and if you feel you need more you could add more to the rice. The lime/lemon juice should not be very strong but you should be able to taste the flavor.
Whether you use lime or lemon you still get the benefits of Vitamin C from either of these citrus fruits.
You can learn the difference between the 2 here Lime vs Lemon
Other ingredients include:
One chopped green chili( use more if you like it spicy), half an onion chopped fine, 1/2 inch chopped ginger, a handful of roasted peanuts.
For seasoning:
Mustard seeds – Black mustard seeds
Split urad dal – White split urad dal
Curry leaves
Asafoetida
If you have curry leaves, it really enhances the flavor. But leave it out if you don’t have them. I have tried it without curry leaves and it is still good.
Heat up a pan on medium heat. Pour in a tablespoon of oil. When hot, add seasoning ingredients starting with mustard seeds, when they pop, add the rest. Give it a mix and add peanuts.
Add the onion, green chilies, and ginger. Stir.
After the onion turns translucent, add turmeric powder. This is what gives the rice its brilliant yellow color. Add the rice, lime juice, and salt to taste. Mix well till the rice is evenly mixed with all the ingredients and is a bright yellow.
Taste and adjust salt. Garnish with coriander leaves.
This lime rice comes together in under 10 minutes if you have your refrigerated day-old rice.
In case you are making the rice the same day, I suggest cooling the rice before adding it as it could turn out mushy if you don’t.
Enjoy your delicious Indian lime/lemon rice!
Indian Lime/Lemon Rice
Ingredients
- ½ Yellow onion Chopped
- 1 Green chilli Chopped, can add more if you like it spicy
- ½ inch Ginger Chopped
- 2 cups Cooked rice Cold rice previously cooked is best
- 1 tbsp Cooking oil I used olive oil, any cooking oil is fine
- ½ tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 Lime/Lemon
For seasoning
- ½ tsp Mustard seeds
- ½ tsp Split urad dal
- ¼ cup Roasted peanuts
- Asafoetida A pinch
- 1 sprig Curry leaves
Instructions
- Heat up a pan, add 1 tbsp of cooking oil.
- Once the oil is hot, add seasoning ingredients one by one.
- Add chopped onions, green chillies and ginger. Fry till onions are translucent.
- Add turmeric powder and mix.
- Next add your cold rice and salt to taste, break it up and mix evenly. It should have a lovely yellow color.
- Squeeze the juice of 1 lime/lemon into the rice, mix well.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
