Mar 62 min read

Lemon Rice Recipe

Updated: Jun 13

Lemon Rice is part of my 'Simple Rice Collection' the recipes are pretty much cooked by the same method, the 'absorption method' the spice ingredients are what change the tone of the dish. Some will have just a few spices, simply on their own; others will incorporate onion and other vegetables, nuts and even some fruit.

Lemon Rice is such a refreshing accompaniment and really goes well with fattier curries like chicken korma, lamb madras, pork vindaloo. Here in Cyprus we are inundated with lemons for most of the year, so this is a great way to use some of them, obviously saving a couple for your chicken tikka and a gin and tonic hmm yes please!

Serves 4 people

Preparation time 10minutes, cooking time 30 minutes,

Recipe Difficulty level - Beginner-Friendly

Special equipment - none

Lemon Rice recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup of basmati or long grain rice
1½ cups of water
½ a teaspoon of ground turmeric
1 tablespoons of butter
1 tsp of poppy seeds
2 bay leaves
1 tsp Himalayan or Celtic sea salt
Fresh chopped coriander leaves for garnish
The juice of half a fresh lemon and the other half cut into slices

How to cook Lemon Rice

Click here for Kitchen Timer

Step 1:

Wash the rice in cold water to wash out most of the starch and any impurities, then cover the rice with water and briefly soak whilst you prep the rest of the ingredients. Once the rice has soaked rinse again

Step 2:

In a pan with tight fitting lid melt the butter, and add the poppy seeds until they crackle.

Step 3:

Now add the rice and turmeric, stir so that all the butter coats the rice grains then add the bay leaves.

Step 4:

Add the water and salt, and lemon slices along with the lemon juice bringing to the boil for a minute or two then give one last good stir.

Step 5:

Place the tight fitting lid and reduce the heat to the lowest level possible. Set a timer for 15 minutes, when the timer goes off remove the pan from the heat. Set another timer for 15 more minutes, try not to lift the lid during this cooking process.

Step 6:

Remove the lid and using a fork gently lift the rice from the bottom of the pan to separate the grains. Remove the bay leaves and cooked lemon slices, garnish with coriander leaves and serve.