Lemon rice / Nimmakaya annam

Lemon Rice / Nimmakaya Annam

There will be many mornings when we feel very lazy and unenergetic. But still, we have to get up and prepare lunch for our kids who go to school or for our husbands who have to rush for their offices. Today´s recipe is an idea to overcome such situations. Lemon rice - this is a very common, popular and very simple dish to prepare. The ingredients used are also easily available in our pantry or kitchen. Though it is very easy to prepare,
at the same time, it is very tasty and can be adjusted to one´s tastes. This can also be prepared with left over rice.

These dishes also come in very handy in our busy schedule. 

Mango Rice

Methi Peas pulav

Cauliflower channa rice

Sprouted chick peas and spinach rice

Spinach rice

Amaranth Rice

Flavored Curd Rice

Just get all the ingredients ready the day before preparation and you can prepare the lunches in a jiffy on a very busy morning. Some of these dishes can also be prepared with leftover rice. 

Preparation : 

Heat oil and ghee in a pan. 

 When the oil in hot enough, add mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Allow them to crackle. 

Add peanuts. You can also add channa dal, split urad dal if you want to have a nutty flavour in your lemon rice. Do not too much of these lentils. Just add a teaspoon of each for a nice flavour. Fry until the dals become golden in colour. 

Now add green chillies, dry red chillies, curry leaves and hing. Give it a nice mix and cook for a minute. 

Now add ginger paste. Cook until the raw smell of the ginger paste disappears.

Then add turmeric powder. Give a gentle mix.

Throw in the cooked rice. Mix very gently taking care not to break the rice or making it mashy. 

Now squeeze the lemon and put the juice on the rice along with salt. 

Mix it well and serve hot. If you want it more spicy, you can also add black pepper powder. Pack this for lunch and enjoy the flavorful lemon rice.

Ingredients 

Oil 1 tsp 

Ghee 1 tsp 

Mustard seeds 1/2 tsp 

Cumin seeds 1/2 tsp 

Peanuts a handful 

Channa dal 1 tsp ( optional ) 

Split urad dal 1 tsp ( optional ) 

Green chillies 3-4 ( adjust according to your spice levels ) 

Red chillies 1 

Hing 2 pinches 

Curry leaves few 

Ginger paste 1 tsp 

Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp 

Rice 2 cups 

Salt to taste 

Lemon juice of 1 lemon 

Coriander leaves to garnish 

Black pepper powder 1/2 tsp ( optional ) 

Method 

1. Cook rice and allow it to cool such that it is grainy and fluffy. The rice should not be mashed. Keep aside. 
2. Heat oil and ghee in a pan. 
3. Once hot, add mustard and cumin seeds. 
4. When they splutter, add peanuts, channa dal and urad dal. Fry them until they change to golden colour. 
5. Add green chillies, red chillies, curry leaves and hing. 
6. Fry for a minute and  add ginger paste. Cook until the raw smell of ginger disappears. 
7. Add turmeric powder and fry for a minute. 
8. Now add the cooked rice and give a gentle mix. 
9. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into the rice and add salt. 
10. Carefully mix the rice without breaking the rice or making it mashy. 
11. Check for salt and spice and garnish with coriander leaves. 
12. Serve hot or pack for your lunch and enjoy this flavorful rice.

Notes 

• Peanuts and lentils are optional. But adding these will give a nice nutty and crunchiness to your dish. Cashews can also be added.
• Adjust the spice according to your taste buds. Reduce or increase the chillies accordingly. Black pepper powder can also be added to enhance the flavour. 
• The Tadka plays an important part for any flavorful rice. Hence, make sure you give a nice tadka to your dish.
• Do not squeeze the lemon too much else the dish will turn bitter.