Tasty Fusion of Indian Lemon Rice & Vegetable Fried Rice 🍋

White rice goes pairs just fine with a lot of foods, but sometimes you may want a little more flavor.
➡️ Fortunately, there is a zesty recipe from South India that is easy to make and packed full of flavor. In this video, I’ll be making a fusion of vegetable fried rice and Lemon rice!

The base is basmati rice, which is already fragrant (like jasmine) and nutty in flavor compared to plain white rice.
➡️ It’s combined with red peppers, onions, ginger, garlic, cumin, cilantro, lemon (of course), and more!
Join me in the kitchen to see how I combine all of the ingredients and spice up this delicious fusion side dish!

💬 Have you tried this recipe at home after watching it? Let me know in the comments below!

▶️ RECIPE INGREDIENTS: (3 to 4 servings)

To cook rice:
1+1/2 cup / 300g WHITE BASMATI RICE
2 cups / 500ml Water
Cook the rice in a wider pan, this will prevent the rice from getting soggy.

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

3 tablespoon Cooking oil (I have used light olive oil)
1 teaspoon Mustard seeds
1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
15 to 20 Curry leaves - fresh/dry/frozen (OPTIONAL)
1 cup / 130g Onion
1 cup / 150g Carrot
1 cup / 150 Red bell pepper
2 cups / 170g Snow peas (or snap peas)
1 tablespoon / 9 grams Ginger - finely chopped
1 teaspoon Turmeric
1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper or to taste (OPTIONAL)
Salt to taste (I have added total 1+1/4 teaspoon of pink Himalayan Salt)
2 to 3 Tablespoon Lemon juice (I have added 3 tablespoon - I like it slightly tangy)
3/4 cup / 30g Cilantro leaves - chopped
2 teaspoon Sesame oil
1/3 cup / 50g Roasted peanuts

▶️ METHOD:

Wash the basmati rice a few times until the water runs clear and soak for 30 minutes.

Once soaked strain the rice and transfer it to a wide pan and add water. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat and cook it for about 15 minutes or until the rice is cooked.

Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork. Then set it aside for it to cool down.

Now heat a pan and add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil and let it heat thoroughly. Once the oil is heated, reduce the stove heat to low and then add the mustard seed. (Reducing the heat will prevent the seeds from burning). When the mustard seeds start to crackle, then add the cumin and curry leaves and give it a stir and fry it for a few seconds. (Please Note: If you add the mustard and cumin seeds together, the cumin will burn before even the mustard seed crackles do be careful there).

Now add the chopped onion, carrot, bell pepper, salt and turn the heat to medium. Fry until the onion starts to caramelized. Then add the finely chopped ginger, turmeric, cayenne pepper and fry for another 1 to 2 minutes to get rid of the raw flavour of the turmeric.

In the mean time, break any lumps in the rice. Add the snow peas, rice, salt to the pan and mix everything thoroughly. Turn off the heat and then garnish with lemon juice, cilantro leaves and sesame oil. Mix well and add roasted peanuts. Cover and let it sit for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.

IMPORTANT TIPS:

- Every stove is different, so adjust the heat of your stove accordingly. At any point, you notice the pan is getting overheated reduce the heat
- This recipe is for white basmati rice, if you are using a different kind of rice adjust the water accordingly
- Cook the basmati rice in a wider pan, this will prevent the rice from getting soggy
- You could use leftover cooked rice for this recipe