Lemon Rice

Chitrannangal (Assorted Rice preparations)
Chitrannam means cooked rice mixed in different variety of ingredients. It is easy to prepare and tasty to eat. There are about 8-10 variety of chitrannangal. These are mostly prepared during festivals, in marriage feast, and are offered as prasadam at temples in south India.
Lemon rice is one of the chitrannam. It is very easy to prepare. Increase the quantity of rice and ingredients according to the number of persons you prepare for.

1. Lemon rice
Cook 200g of rice with (1:2 ratio) water. Transfer this in a big plate. Add 3-4 teaspoons of sesame oil and spread it gently with a spoon. Let it cool.
Squeeze 2 lemons (remove the seeds) in a cup and add ½ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi).

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon rai
• 1 teaspoon udar dal
• 1 teaspoon channa dal
• ½ teaspoon tur dal
• ¼ teaspoon hing ( asefodida)
• 2 red chilies (dried)
• 1 sprig curry leaves chopped
• Few cashew nuts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5-6 teaspoons sesame oil or which ever oil you use
  
  For grinding masala
• 3-4 tablespoons grated coconut
• 3-4 green chilies
• ½ inch ginger
• Few coriander leaves
  
  Grind the above masala into paste by adding little water
  

Method
Heat the oil in a nonstick kadai and fry all the above ingredients till it turns into golden brown. Now add the masala paste and salt. Stir it well. Let it boil for 1 minute.
Switch off the flame. Pour the lemon juice with haldi and stir it well.
Now slowly mix this lemon mixture to the cooked rice. Serve this after ½ an hour because it takes little time for the lemon masala to get absorbed in the rice. Serve it with fried papad.

Serves two.