The recipe below means freedom to a man named Rakesh.
Lemon rice is the first meal LFTI children are served after they are rescued.
Most children come from awful situations, where getting a hot meal is only a dream.
Rakesh was no exception. He was rescued from sex trafficking many years ago. He reflects,
“I will never forget that I got to eat hot lemon rice and a boiled egg. Then, for the first time in years, my belly was full and my head was on a pillow.”
Experiences like that only happen because of supporters like you.
Today, as an adult, Rakesh and his wife cook lemon rice at Christmastime to commemorate his healing and overcoming.
Will you join in this special family tradition to celebrate Rakesh and ALL LFTI children? Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
4 ½ cups water
5 tbsp peanut oil or butter
2 cups basmati rice
½ yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 lemons, juiced 6 dried red chilies
½ cup roasted unsalted peanuts, soaked for 10 minutes
2 tsp salt
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp black mustard seeds
1 strand curry leaves
Instructions:
Rice: Wash rice, then put in rice cooker with water, salt and 2 tbsp oil. Mix well. Cook according to cooker directions.
Sauce: Heat 3 tbsp oil in large skillet. Add onion, fry until golden. Break chilis and curry leaves into 3 pieces and add, fry ~4 min.
Add black mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric and peanuts.
Fry ~5 min, until peanuts are toasted.
Add juice of 2 lemons and salt to taste.
Cook sauce until thickened. Transfer rice to serving dish, add sauce and mix well.
Enjoy! Rakesh and the entire LFTI team would LOVE to see photos of your lemon rice. Email us photos at info@lifefortheinnocent.org, or post and tag @lifefortheinnocent on Facebook or Instagram!
