When the month long BM was announced along with the wonderful A-Z alphabet theme, I was right on making lists with several unique dishes and dishes that were new to me. When the dates started getting close and I realized that I would not be able to do the marathon making just unique dishes, I started bringing in more practical dishes. One such addition to my list is this Elumichampazham saadham or lemon rice.
Why make this recipe
Lemon rice is very simple and quick rice that works great for lunch boxes and traveling. This is a dish that does wonderfully during travels in hot weather. The addition of the lemon juice and the oil in the dish enables the dish to remain fresh when traveling. Also this is a very often made lunch box dish in my house.
My older son loves lemon to the extent that he chews on lemon slices as is. When we are in a restaurant, he would take the lemon slices that would be served as garnishes and he would be sucking on them. This habit of his got me really worried, and I asked his doctor if he was deficient in any mineral or vitamin. The doctor reassured me that it was completely fine to develop some weird liking and just wanted him to be a little careful to not do it very often, since the acidity of the lemon could ruin his teeth enamels. His love for the lemon allows me to pack this for school.
If making the lemon rice early in the morning, you could make the rice the night before, so that would allow enough time for the rice to cool down. This recipe goes to the marathon for the letter E under the theme regional.
Preparation time – 10 mins plus time to cool down the rice
Cooking time – 30 mins
Difficulty level – easy
Ingredients to make Elumichampazham Saadham – serves 4
- Rice – 1 cup (cooked and cooled down)
- Oil – 2 tbsp
- Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
- Ullutham paruppu/urad dal – 1 tsp
- Kadalai paruppu/channa dal – 1 tsp
- Green chilies – 3 (chopped)
- Red chilies – 2
- Peanuts – 3 tbsp
- Ginger – 1 tbsp (grated)
- Turmeric powder – ¾ tsp
- Asafetida – ¼ tsp
- Salt – to taste
- Lemon/lime juice – from I large lemon/lime or about 3 tbsp
- Curry leaves – 5-6
- Cilantro – for garnish (chopped)
Procedure –
- Cook the rice and transfer it on a wide plate. Spread it slightly and allow the rice to cool down.
- In a small frying pan, heat the oil. Add all the ingredients except the lemon juice and the cilantro and fry until the seasonings are aromatic.
- Now add this to the cool rice and mix well without adding too much pressure. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
- Garnish the Elumichampazham Saadham with cilantro and serve with any curry or chips or appalam on the side.
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Elumichampazham Saadham – Lemon Rice
Ingredients
- 1 cup Rice cooked and cooled down
- 2 tbsp Oil
- 1 tsp Mustard seeds
- 1 tsp Ullutham paruppu/urad dal
- 1 tsp Kadalai paruppu/channa dal
- 3 Green chilies chopped
- 2 Red chilies
- 3 tbsp Peanuts
- 1 tbsp Ginger grated
- ¾ tsp Turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp Asafetida
- Salt to taste
- 3 tbsp Lemon/lime juice from I large lemon/lime or about
- 5-6 Curry leaves
- Cilantro chopped– for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the rice and transfer it on a wide plate. Spread it slightly and allow the rice to cool down.
- In a small frying pan, heat the oil. Add all the ingredients except the lemon juice and the cilantro and fry until the seasonings are aromatic.
- Now add this to the cool rice and mix well without adding too much pressure. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
- Garnish the Elumichampazham Saadham with cilantro and serve with any curry or chips or appalam on the side.
Archana Potdar says
Love this. Its my favourite rice. Now you ar etempting me to make it tomorrow.
Rajani S says
Unless you plan well ahead, its difficult to showcase only elite recipes...But lemon rice is fine, its homely and its comfort food..Will prefer this over all else when there is overdose of virtual food 🙂
Foodiliciousnan says
This was a common lunch box item at my mom's place. But my hubby doesn't like it so much. I so miss this!!!
Suma Gandlur says
This comes to rescue on lazy days. Simple and flavorful.
Pavani N says
One of our family favorite dish. Most of the leftover rice transforms into lemon rice in our household.
Gayathri Kumar says
Perfect lunch box recipe and my fav variety rice...
Sreevalli E says
So tempting .. This is one os my favorite rice & I make it very often..
Padmajha PJ says
An easy dish for lunch box and travel.Love this with a simple potao curry...
Chef Mireille says
looks so flavorful...definitely a must try
Sandhya Karandikar says
I always remember my school days in Chennai when I see Lemon Rice. SImple tasy and pretty looking rice dish.
Harini-Jaya R says
I also ended up changing the list so many times. Believe me if I say I am bound to still some changes.
Nivedhanams Sowmya says
so flavorful and delicious!!! simple and elegant rice!!!
Sowmya
Veena Theagarajan says
kids love it anytime.. So I do it so often.. So comforting rice
vaishali sabnani says
It has been a long time since I made these..but I remember enjoying these rice. They look wonderful with those peanuts.
Manjula Bharath says
all time fav and a delicious comfy food 🙂 looks super yumm dear !!
Preeti Garg says
Look tempting and flavorful with nuts and lemons
Janani says
I love it anytime pa my hubby fav and my kids too.Looks like ur enjoying the full benefit of ur garden fruits nice nice.
veena krishnakumar says
Beautiful click...delicious rice!!
The Pumpkin Farm says
my son's fav dish, loved the way u have presented
Suja Md says
My all time favorite..could have it for the whole day..:)
Srivalli says
Lemon rice is always such a saviour...btw..one of the picture is not loaded..do check it again...
Priya Suresh says
Even it happened to me, i fixed earlier with unique dishes, then made many changes too.
Lemon rice is my all time favourite, love with potato roast.
Sapana Behl says
So delicious lemon rice . When I prepared it few days back we just fell in love with it.