See lemon rice recipe. Rice is the much-loved staple food of South Indians. The day begins and ends with steaming hot rice, which is enjoyed in different ways.
In a traditional meal, the rice is relished with soupy rasam or spicy sambhar. Or, the rice is mixed with tempering and flavouring ingredients to make delectable preparations like Tamarind Rice Peanut Riceor Lemon Rice.
Such one-dish rice meals are called as variety rice, mixed rice or rice bhaat in South India. They make a convenient meal on a busy day, and are just perfect to carry in the lunch dabba as they taste awesome even after a couple of hours.
Is Lemon Rice healthy?
Yes and No. You need to make some changes to the recipe as we recommend. Lemon rice is nothing but Rice + Lime juice + some dals and spices.
Let's undestand the Ingredients.
What's good.
1. Lemon, Lemon Juice : Lemon is a very good source of Vitamin C and thus helps in the production of white blood cells and antibodies in the blood which attacks invading microorganisms, prevents infection and builds immunity. Therefore, Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold. The ascorbic acid in lemon juice helps in absorption of iron from the food. So if you’re iron deficient or have anaemia squeeze a lemon on iron rich recipes. See detailed benefits of lemon, lemon juice.
2. Urad Dal : 1 cup of cooked urad dal gives 69.30% of folic acid of your daily requirement of folate. The folic acid in urad dal helps your body to produce and maintain new cells, especially red blood cells. Being rich in Phosphorus it works with Calcium to build our bones, high in fibre and good for heart, good for lowering cholesterol and good for diabetes. See here for 10 super benefits of urad dal.
3. Chana Dal ( split bengal gram) : One cup of cooked Chana Dal provides 33% of your protein for the day. Chana dal is heart and diabetic friendly, also rich in fiber. Chana dal has high amount of potassium and low amount of sodium which makes it very effective in regulating your blood pressure. Read this article on complete benefits of chana dal.
What's the problem?
Rice : Here are the pros for rice. Rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates, which is an important source of energy for our body. Rice is low in fibre and therefore a good option for people suffering from diarrhoea. What's not good in rice. Foods like rice are high in GI are not suitable for weight loss, heart patients, diabetics as they affect the blood sugar control levels. See details of is white rice and parboiled rice good for you?
Can Diabetics, Heart patients and over weight individuals have lemon rice?
This lemon rice needs to be modified for individuals with health problems. Replace the white rice with brown rice and add some vegetables to it. When adding rice try and avoid any other carbohydrate in the same meal.We know thats hard but you need some fibre in the rice. Try our lemon rice made with brown rice.
Healthy Lemon Rice
Can healthy individuals have lemon rice ?
Ideally no. Always try and avoid white rice as it's high in GI are not suitable for weight loss.
How to burn 175 calories that come from Lemon Rice?
Walking (6 kmph) = 53 mins
Running (11 kmph) = 18 mins
Cycling (30 kmph) = 23 mins
Swimming (2 kmph) = 30 mins
Note: These values are approximate and calorie burning differs in each individual.