Discover the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine with this easy to make Indian lemon rice recipe.
Fragrant Basmati rice, infused with garlic, ginger, and a medley of spices, dances on your palate.
Zesty lemon juice adds a refreshing twist, and when garnished with fresh cilantro leaves it adds freshness with every bite.
Jump to:
Indian lemon rice is a delightful and aromatic dish that is sure to delight with its tangy flavor and fragrant spices.
This dish combines the richness of Basmati rice with the zesty kick of lemon, along with a symphony of spices including garlic, ginger, black mustard seeds, red chili, and turmeric powder.
The result is a vibrant and flavorful meal that is both comforting and exotic.
At the heart of Indian lemon rice is the Basmati rice, renowned for its long grains and distinct aroma.
This variety of rice lends a fragrant and fluffy texture to the dish, serving as the perfect canvas for the bold flavors it encompasses.
The aromatic journey begins with the tempering of spices. In a hot pan, black mustard seeds crackle and pop, releasing their earthy aroma.
Garlic and ginger follow, sizzling in the pan, infusing the oil with their aroma.
Red chili adds a fiery kick (optional of course!), while turmeric powder gives the dish its vibrant yellow hue.
But it is the lemon that truly takes this dish to new heights.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice is drizzled over the rice, its tartness cutting through the richness of the spices, lending a refreshing and citrusy note that dances on the palate. The lemon zest adds a burst of fragrance.
As the flavors meld together, the kitchen is filled with the irresistible aroma of Indian spices and citrusy zest. Each mouthful is a range of flavors – the nuttiness of the rice, the warmth of the spices, and the brightness of the lemon.
To garnish, fresh cilantro leaves add a touch of freshness.
This Indian lemon rice recipe is so simple to make, and it’s ready in no time.
So what are you waiting for?
Whip up this delicious and fragrant Indian rice recipe for dinner tonight!
How can I serve this Indian lemon rice recipe?
Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves for added brightness.
Serve alongside grilled chicken, warm roti, or as part of a traditional thali meal with various curries and chutneys.
For extra zest, pair with spicy pickles or cool yogurt raita.
The vibrant colors and tangy flavors make it a delightful addition to any Indian-inspired feast or as a standalone dish for a flavorful meal.
Other delicious Indian rice recipes you might like to try include bagara rice, egg biryani, jeera rice, and chicken pulao.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Whip up a delicious meal in no time with this simple and fuss-free recipe.
- Perfect for any occasion – serve it as a side dish or a main course, for lunch or dinner.
- Customizable: Adjust the spice level and garnishes to suit your taste preferences.
- This recipe for Indian lemon rice is budget friendly.
- Make this Indian rice dish in advance This makes it great for pot lucks or even meal prep.
- Indian lemon rice is gluten free.
Cost To Make
Estimated cost = $2.10 or $0.52 a serve
Ingredients
Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.
- Basmati Rice: We recommend using basmati rice for this recipe. If you can’t get basmati rice, you could use another long grain rice such as jasmine rice. If you use jasmine rice you will need to cook your rice for about 20 minutes.
- Vegetable Oil: Or any other neutral flavored oil.
- Minced Garlic
- Minced Ginger
- Black Mustard Seeds
- Green or Red Chili: Slit, deseeded, and cut into small pieces.
- Water
- Turmeric Powder
- Lemon: You will need both the lemon zest and lemon rind.
- Salt
- Fresh cilantro (coriander) leaves: Roughly chopped, to garnish, optional.
Instructions
This recipe for Indian lemon rice serves 4. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.
Step One: Rinse rice under room temperature water until the water runs clear. This should take about 2 to 3 rinses. Completely drain off all water.
Step Two: In a medium sized saucepan, heat the oil. Once hot, add the minced garlic, minced ginger, mustard seeds, and red chili. Saute for about 1 minute.
Step Three: Add the rice and continue to cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes.
Step Four: Carefully place water, turmeric powder, lemon zest, and salt, in saucepan, stir to combine. Make sure the rice sits flat along the bottom, but no rice is sticking to the bottom. Taste for seasoning, add more salt if desired.
Step Five: Bring liquid to a boil. Once at a boil, stir the rice, and reduce heat to bring it to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 25 minutes.
Step Six: Once cooked, turn off heat and allow the rice to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Step Seven: Mix through the lemon juice. Serve. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro if desired.
Tips for Success
- Adjust lemon juice gradually to achieve desired tanginess. Start a little at a time, adding more as needed. Remember, you can't remove excess lemon juice, so proceed with caution for perfect flavor balance.
Substitutions / Variations
Here are some variations of this Indian lemon rice recipe you might like to try:
- Mix through some toasted cashews for some crunch.
- Mix through some freshly chopped mint leaves at the end.
- Saute some vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini and mix through your rice.
- You could use a combination of water and unsweetened coconut milk to cook your rice. For example, you could use ½ cup coconut milk and 1 ¾ cups of water.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve Indian lemon rice alongside succulent grilled chicken for a balanced and flavorful meal.
- Complement the tangy rice with a side of spicy Indian pickles for an extra kick of flavor.
- Enjoy the lemon rice wrapped in warm roti or naan bread for a satisfying and portable meal.
- Serve with cool and creamy yogurt raita, flavored with cucumber, mint, and spices, to balance the heat of the dish.
- Serve alongside curries, chutneys, or bread.
Storage
Store this Indian lemon rice in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 2 to 3 days. To reheat, you could use the microwave or heat up on the stovetop. If you find your rice has dried out a bit, a little water before reheating.
FAQ
Indian lemon rice is typically made with Basmati rice, garlic, ginger, black mustard seeds, red chili, turmeric powder, lemon juice, and optionally garnished with fresh cilantro leaves.
Indian rice is often yellow due to the addition of turmeric powder during cooking.
Lemon rice pairs well with grilled chicken, spicy pickles, warm roti or naan bread, yogurt raita, or as part of a traditional Indian thali meal with various curries and chutneys.
Lemon rice can turn bitter if the lemon zest or pith is included in excess. Ensure only the outer yellow part of the lemon peel is used, as the white pith can give a bitter flavor.
What rice is used for what?
Ever wondered which might be the best rice to use for a dish you’re about to make.
Or maybe you’re just curious and want to know more about rice in general.
Why not check out our pages on what is basmati rice and what is jasmine rice.
Helpful Rice Cooking Tips
Want to know how to cook rice or just need a little refresher?
Check out how to easily cook basmati rice, sushi rice, and jasmine rice on the stovetop.
Or, why not check out our recipes on how to make basmati rice, jasmine rice, and sushi rice in the Instant Pot.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.
Recipe
Indian Lemon Rice
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams, 15.58 ounces) basmati rice
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons black mustard seeds
- 1 green or red chili slit and desseded, chopped fine
- 2 ¼ cups (560 grams, 19.75 ounces) water
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 3 teaspoons (8 grams, 0.28 ounces) lemon zest or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice or to taste
- Fresh cilantro (coriander leaves), roughly chopped, to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Rinse rice under room temperature water until the water runs clear. This should take about 2 to 3 rinses. Completely drain off all water.
- In a medium sized saucepan, heat the oil. Once hot, add the minced garlic, minced ginger, mustard seeds, and red chili. Saute for about 1 minute.
- Add the rice and continue to cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes.
- Carefully place water, turmeric powder, lemon zest, and salt, in saucepan, stir to combine. Make sure the rice sits flat along the bottom, but no rice is sticking to the bottom. Taste for seasoning, add more salt if desired.
- Bring liquid to a boil. Once at a boil, stir the rice, and reduce heat to bring it to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 25 minutes.
- Once cooked, turn off heat and allow the rice to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Mix through the lemon juice. Serve. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro if desired.
Comments
No Comments