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Mujadara Recipe

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4.1 from 11 reviews

Mujadara is a traditional Middle Eastern dish featuring green or brown lentils cooked with brown rice and topped with deliciously caramelized onions. This wholesome, vegetarian recipe combines simple ingredients with fragrant spices like cumin and bay leaves to create a comforting, nutritious meal that’s perfect for any time of the year.

  • Author: Chef
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern
  • Diet: Vegan

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 5 small to medium onions, sliced
  • 1.5 cups green or brown lentils
  • 1 cup brown rice (or white rice – see notes)
  • 5 to 5 1/2 cups water, divided
  • 1 tbsp vegetable bouillon powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 bay leaves
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: If using brown rice, soak it in water for 20 minutes then drain. This helps the rice cook evenly. Also, soak lentils in cold water and drain to speed up their cooking time and consistency. Meanwhile, slice the onions; you may use a combination of yellow and red onions or either type alone.
  2. Cook Brown Rice: In a large pot, combine soaked brown rice and 2 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil, then stir in vegetable bouillon powder, 1 tsp salt, black pepper to taste, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
  3. Add Lentils: After 20 minutes, add the drained lentils and 3 cups of water to the pot. Stir well, cover again, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 25 minutes until both lentils and rice are tender.
  4. Caramelize Onions: While lentils cook, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onions and cover. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove lid, stir, add ground cumin and 1/2 tsp salt, then cook uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes until onions are deeply caramelized and optionally crisp at edges.
  5. Finalize Dish: Once lentils and rice are tender, remove bay leaves. Stir about two-thirds of the caramelized onions into the pot with the lentils and rice, reserving the rest for garnish.
  6. Serve: Spoon Mujadara into bowls. Garnish with remaining caramelized onions, dairy-free yogurt if desired, and fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro. Enjoy warm as a hearty and nutritious meal.

Notes

  • Soaking brown rice before cooking ensures even texture; white rice can be used without soaking.
  • Soaking lentils helps them cook more evenly and reduces cooking time.
  • Adjust water quantity slightly depending on rice type and personal preference for texture.
  • Increase heat during the final stage of onion cooking for crispier edges based on taste.
  • Mujadara is naturally vegan and vegetarian; suitable for a variety of diets.
  • Serving with dairy-free yogurt and fresh herbs adds a refreshing contrast to the dish.

Find it online: https://cheftinaskitchen.com/mujadara-recipe/