Lemon Rice With Drumstick Leaves And Peanuts.

“Lemon Rice With Drumstick Leaves And Peanuts” … Mention Lemon and muha mey paani aa jata hey … Haina ?? … Lemon Rice or Nimboo BhaatH or Limbiya SheetHa is a delicious seasoned – lemony flavoured rice; most common in Southern parts of India … Today I prepared the same with the addition of Drumstick leaves / Mashinga Sanga Pallo (in Konkani); also known as Moringa which is loaded with health benefits … Addition of Peanuts gives it that nutty crunch and adds on more pleasure in enjoying the same … Must say a simple but an awesome and healthy combination ... Loved it ... Yummy Yumz .....

The mere mention of Lemon makes you want to taste that tangy flavour sending tickling sensation in mouth. This is a delicious seasoned ~ flavoured rice most common in the southern parts of India. An easy to prepare dish, it is almost a daily staple food in some parts as it is not only tasty but a very versatile dish too. Lemon rice can be prepared with ready cooked rice by seasoning it and adding of freshly squeezed lemon juice. This can be prepared both with freshly cooked or left over rice. An awesome dish to be packed along in tiffins to office or school dabba. The tanginess of the lemon imparts a special aroma and children love this very much when packed as their tiffin. Addition of fried groundnuts gives them that nutty crunch and adds on more pleasure in enjoying the same. You can serve lemon rice as it is or with a little bit of chutney or pickle. Also addition of some fryums or vodi or pappad will add on to the pleasure in having this for dinner. I have already posted lemon rice / nimboo bhaat before and another variation of lemon rice with carrots. But here as another variation to it I have added on drumtick leaves and I must say it was awesome with the added goodness of these leaves that are loaded with health benefits. Drumstick Leaves / Mashinga Pallo (In Konkani) also known as Moringa is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It contains significant amounts of vitamin A, C, and E; calcium; potassium; and protein. So in all its good for health and as I have said before the best way to consume or make the kids eat this healthy vegetable is by adding them to dishes, so here goes a new twist for nimboo / lemon rice. Enjoy tastes great.

Ingredients:

Cooked Rice : 4 cups.

Lemon Juice : Freshly squeezed juice of about 2 lemons (Approx)

Drumstick Leaves / Mashing Pallo :1 cup only leaves picked, washed and drained. 

Peanuts / Groundnuts : ¼ cup.

Mustard Seeds / Rai / Sasam : 1 tsp

Urad Dal / Black Gram Dal : 1 tsp

Methi / Fenugreek Seeds : ¼ tsp

Green chillies : 2-3 cut to pieces

Dried Red Chillies : 2-3 cut into bits

Grated Ginger : 1 tsp

Hing / Asafoetida Powder : 1 tsp

Haldi / Turmeric Powder : ½ tsp

Curry Leaves : 8-10

Oil : 3 tblsp

Salt to taste

** Note : I have prepared this with freshly prepared rice. You can prepare the same with left over rice too. You may choose whichever is suitable to you. The result is same. Lemon Rice / Nimboo Bhaat is usually served at room temperature. But some prefer to have it a lit bit hot as with the case of when serving to children and in case one is using left over rice. Choose whichever way you like to enjoy the rice as both room temperature or a lit bit warmer than than both are equally good. 

** In a thick bottomed kadai, add the oil and bring to heat. When hot lower the heat and add in the ground nuts and fry till well and evenly browned, remove and keep aside. 

** Now continue in the same oil by adding in the urad dal, when it changes in colour slightly, add in mustard seeds, methi, green chillies, red chillies, haldi powder, hing powder, and finally the curry leaves and fry for a few seconds. 

** Now add in the fried peanuts / groundnuts kept aside. Fry all this for a minute and then add in the grated ginger and stir for a few seconds. 

** Now add in the drumstick leaves / mashinga sanga pallo and fry on medium heat for a few seconds. Lower the heat, cover with a lid and let the leaves cook for 5 minutes. Remove from fire and keep aside to cool. Add in the cooked rice, salt to taste and mix well. Keep cover on low heat for 2-3 mins. Remove from fire and then add in freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix well. Serve immediately or at room temperature. 

** “Lemon Rice With Drumstick Leaves And Peanuts” is ready to be served. You can serve this immediately or within few hours. However, do not keep this at room temperature for more than 3-4 hrs. as it is bound to become more sour in taste. If you want to serve the dish after some hours, you may prepare the same and keep but do not add in the lime juice. You can add it just before serving, which solves the problem of the dish going rancid. You can also prepare the dish and keep in the fridge for few hours. Microwave it and then add in the lemon juice too. On the whole a yummy dish that is sure to be love by young and old alike. 

** Note : You need not heat the rice if freshly cooked one’s are added. Normally it is not heated, but with growing pollution and weather instabilities, I do so to prevent the dish from getting spoilt. But in case you are taking it in lunch box it is better to heat it a little bit. In case you are serving immediately, just mix and serve no need of heating.

** Note : In case you want to serve it warm to children or if using left over rice follow the procedure given below … Once the drumstick leaves are cooked add in the cooked rice, salt to taste and mix well. Cover and let heat on low heat for 5-7 minutes or till the rice has heated properly. Remove from fire amd them add in the freshly squeezed lemon juice, mix well and serve. 

** Note : While adding in the lemon juice do not add all at one go add some and check the sourness before adding in more. This is to ensure that the lemon rice does not become to sour in taste. Lemons are sometimes very sour and sometime not so. So it is best left to your judgement and Individual liking as to how much of the juice should be added.