Lemon rice is one of the authentic South Indian main courses. Lemon juice gives a very refreshing and tangy flavor to the rice.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup – Rice (Basmati rice/raw rice)
• 1 no – Lemon
• 2 or 3 nos – Dry red chili (as needed)
• 1/4 tsp – Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp – Mustard seeds
• 1/2 tsp – Split black gram
• 6 or 7 – Cashew nuts
• 6 or 7 – Peanuts
• 1 tbsp – Bengal gram (kadalai paruppu)
• 5 or 6 – Curry leaves
• 1 pinch – Asafoetida
• Salt as needed
• 1 tbsp – Oil

Preparation method:

1. Wash and cook the rice. Spread cooked rice on a wide bowl and let it cool completely. Cut the lemon and squeeze the juice discarding the seeds.
2. Heat oil in a pan;fry cashews until golden brown and keep aside. Now add peanuts and roast until they turn golden brown on both sides, remove and keep them aside too.
3. Now in the same pan heat a tbsp of oil splutter mustard,split black gram, bengal gram,red chili,asafoetida and curry leaves.
4. Add lemon juice along with turmeric powder and salt; bring to boil. Add cooked rice to this mixture and mix everything well to blend .Finally add toasted cashews and peanuts.