South Indian Lemon Rice with Brown Rice

This lemon turmeric rice recipe combines the delicious flavors of the popular South Indian lemon rice with healthier brown rice and added vegetables.

About this recipe

South Indian lemon rice is a simple rice recipe made by mixing cooked white rice with lemon juice, turmeric and spices like chillies and ginger. In this healthier version, I have swapped white rice with brown rice and added veggies like carrots and soybeans for the extra crunch, nutrition and flavor. These ingredients go well with the authentic zesty flavor of the traditional lemon rice recipe. This is one of the easiest brown rice recipes seasoned with Indian flavors!

Bonus: Easy rice recipes like lemon rice, coconut rice and dahi bhat are some of the lunchbox meals Indian moms love. They stay fresh for hours without the need to refrigerate. It can also be refrigerated or frozen to last longer.

Added bonus: This turmeric brown rice has added vegetables, which makes it a wholesome vegetarian meal, with protein from soybeans and fiber from carrots. You can customize it by adding boiled vegetables like cauliflower, beans, or peas.

Ingredient notes

Brown rice

I’ve used Jasmine brown rice here, but any brown rice would do. Read further to find out the foolproof method to cook any type of rice.

Spices and flavors

You need bold flavors to spice up brown rice. Turmeric, chillies and ginger along with lemon do the trick. But the secret ingredient here is actually the LEMON ZEST. There’s a burst of citrus flavor from lemon zest which makes this Indian lemon rice recipe simply irresistible!

Soybeans/edamame

Edamame beans are nothing but tender, immature soybeans in the pod. A great source of protein, (apart from iron, calcium, omega-3 fats, fiber and a host of minerals) especially for vegetarians and lactose intolerant people, soybeans are best consumed as a whole food rather than processed. For this recipe, I have used frozen edamame. You can also use dried soybeans, which have to be soaked overnight and pressure cooked.

If soybeans or edamame are not easily available or they’re not your favorite, they can be replaced with an equal quantity of green peas, fresh, frozen or dried. Use the same cooking instructions as for soybeans.

Vegetables

I’ve added grated carrots, but other vegetables like French beans, cauliflower, baby corn can also be used. Precook them (steam or boil) before adding.

Other ingredients would be oil, mustard seeds, cashews and curry leaves for garnishing.

How to make South Indian lemon rice- step by step

(You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this page.)

How to cook Brown Jasmine Rice

Soak the rice for about 30 minutes. If you’re cooking brown rice for the first time, it’s better to cook on a stovetop using a wide pot or pan. Boil about 5 to 6 cups of water for every cup of brown rice. The amount of water should be at least 5 times that of rice. Boil water and add the rice. Cook until you’re able to squeeze an individual grain with ease but not mushy.

For cooking the Jasmine brown rice in a rice cooker or instant pot, the quantity of water should be about 2½ to 3 cups for 1 cup of brown rice. (The exact quantity depends on the brand of rice you’re using.)

Drain the rice using a strainer. Transfer rice back to the pot and keep it closed for 5 to 10 minutes. Spread out the rice on a large tray or plate and let it cool. Now it is ready to be seasoned.

For more tips and detailed pictures on cooking brown rice, read the recipe for stir-fried red rice with Thai flavors.

How to season lemon turmeric rice

Boil edamame in water for 5 minutes. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, cashews, chillies, ginger and curry leaves. Saute until browned and then add grated carrots and edamame. Stir for 5 minutes and turn off the flame. Add lemon juice, zest and brown rice and mix well. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes and serve!

Common questions about cooking brown rice

What to pair turmeric brown rice with

This lemon turmeric rice is so versatile, it can be eaten as a main vegan or vegetarian dish with a salad like Indian chickpea salad or lentil salad with turmeric.

For a quick and easy dinner, pair this turmeric brown rice with a protein like tandoori chicken, pudina chicken drumsticks.

Seafood options would be mackerel fish cakes, tandoori fish or baked salmon kabobs.

You can also pair this lemon brown rice with the simple Kerala egg roast or egg kheema masala for a vegetarian dinner.

How to make brown rice taste good

If you want to replace white rice with brown rice in your favorite rice recipes, follow these simple steps. Once you know the brown rice to water ratio and how to cook brown rice as above, you can make the best brown rice recipes:

• Add more seasoning for brown rice. (About 25% more than when you use white rice.)
• Add more vegetables and herbs than you would for white rice.
• After cooking and seasoning the brown rice, keep it closed and allow it to sit for a minimum of about 10 minutes so that the flavors are absorbed by the brown rice.
• If you are cooking just plain brown rice to eat with curry, do this: after cooking and straining, transfer the rice back to the pot and keep it closed for about 10 minutes. This will allow the rice to steam and get fluffy in the residual heat. If you are using rice cooker or instant pot, do the same thing: allow it to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

More rice recipes

Looking for more easy recipes with brown rice and red rice? Check out these:

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