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Lemon sevai (lemon rice noodles)
Elumichai sevai (எலுமிச்சை சேவை): steamed rice vermicelli tossed with lemon, chilli, peanuts and curry leaves
Sevai is pressed rice-flour vermicelli, and in Tamil Nadu and the Mysuru region the lemon version is a lighter alternative to lemon rice for a school lunch box. Today most homes use dried rice sevai, softened in hot water and steamed, then tossed with a turmeric tempering of mustard, dal, peanuts and green chilli and plenty of lemon. The common mistake is soaking the dry sevai too long, so it breaks into short mushy bits; it should be just pliable before it goes into the steamer. Chef's tip: toss with a fork, not a spoon, and lift rather than stir so the strands stay long.
- Total time
- 22 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sesame or sunflower oil
- ½ tsp black mustard seeds
- 1 tsp chana dal
- 1 tsp urad dal
- 2 tbsp raw peanuts
- 2 green chilliesslit
- 1 tsp fresh gingerfinely chopped
- 12 curry leaves
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¾ tsp salt
- 3 tbsp lemon juiceabout 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Soak 7 oz dried rice vermicelli (rice sevai) in just-boiled water for 2–3 minutes, until pliable but still firm when bent. Drain, spread on a plate lined with a cloth and steam for 5 minutes until soft right through. Spread out and fluff with a fork.
7 minStep 2: Heat 2 tbsp sesame or sunflower oil in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add ½ tsp black mustard seeds and let it crackle, then add 1 tsp chana dal, 1 tsp urad dal and 2 tbsp raw peanuts and fry for 2 minutes until golden.
2 minStep 3: Add 2 green chillies, 1 tsp fresh ginger, 12 curry leaves and ¼ tsp ground turmeric and stir for 30 seconds.
1 minStep 4: Turn the heat to low, add the sevai and ¾ tsp salt and lift and toss with a fork for 2 minutes until evenly yellow.
2 minStep 5: Take off the heat, sprinkle with 3 tbsp lemon juice and 2 tbsp fresh coriander and toss once more. Cool before packing and pack with an ice pack.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does lemon sevai (lemon rice noodles) take?
- About 22 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of black mustard seeds?
- Cumin seeds, same amount (different flavour, same crackle).
- What can I use instead of fresh ginger?
- ¼ tsp ground ginger per tbsp fresh (add it with the spices).
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