Lemon rice
This South Indian dish goes well with seafood and vegetables. Curry leaves are used frequently in this part of India. When you find a fresh bunch, put them to dry on a towel on top of the boiler, then place them in an airtight jar to use as needed.
By Anjum Anand
Ingredients
- 2½ tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- pinch fenugreek seeds
- 1 tsp split chana dal
- 1 tsp urid dal
- 2-3 dried red chillies, left whole
- 1 rounded tsp chopped fresh ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 4 tbsp roasted peanuts
- 10 curry leaves, torn in half
- salt, to taste
- 3 tbsp lemon juice, or to taste
- 350g/12oz freshly cooked basmati rice
Method
Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and add the mustard and fenugreek seeds, the chana dal, black gram and the chillies and stir fry until lightly browned.
Add the ginger, ground turmeric, peanuts, curry leaves and salt, to taste, and cook for about 40 seconds.
Stir in the lemon juice and cook for another minute before adding the rice. Stir fry to heat through, being careful not to break up the grains too much.
To serve, place the rice onto serving plates.
