Mujadara Recipe
Mujadara is a hearty and comforting Middle Eastern dish made with lentils, rice, and sweet caramelized onions. This traditional recipe combines brown or green lentils with brown rice and is seasoned with cumin and bay leaves for a fragrant, savory flavor. Perfect for a nutritious vegetarian meal, Mujadara is easy to make on the stovetop and is served topped with crisp caramelized onions and fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Rice and Lentils
- 1.5 cups green or brown lentils
- 1 cup brown rice (or white rice as an alternative)
- 5 – 5 1/2 cups water (divided)
- 1 tbsp veggie bouillon powder
- 1 1/2 tsp salt (divided)
- 2 bay leaves
- Black pepper to taste
Onions and Seasoning
- 5 small-medium onions (sliced; a mix of 2 yellow and 3 red onions recommended)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
Instructions
- Prepare Rice: Soak brown rice for 20 minutes, then drain. Add soaked rice and 2 1/2 cups water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Stir in veggie bouillon powder, 1 tsp salt, black pepper, and bay leaves. Once boiling, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Prepare Lentils: Meanwhile, soak lentils in cold water, then drain to promote even and faster cooking.
- Slice Onions: While rice cooks, slice onions thinly. A combination of yellow and red onions is ideal for flavor.
- Add Lentils: After rice cooks for 20 minutes, add drained lentils and 3 cups water to the pot. Stir and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add sliced onions and stir. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes. Uncover, add cumin and remaining 1/2 tsp salt, and cook uncovered for another 5-10 minutes to achieve caramelization. Increase heat if a crispier texture is desired.
- Check Doneness: After lentils have cooked for 25 minutes, check if lentils and rice are tender. If not, simmer a few more minutes. Then turn off heat and let the pot rest covered for a few minutes.
- Assemble Mujadara: Remove bay leaves from the pot. Add about two-thirds of the caramelized onions to the lentil and rice mixture, reserving the rest for garnish.
- Serve: Spoon Mujadara into bowls, topping with reserved caramelized onions, dairy-free yogurt if desired, and fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro. Enjoy your warm, nutritious dish!
Notes
- Soaking brown rice and lentils helps them cook evenly and reduces cooking time.
- White rice can be used as an alternative; adjust water amounts accordingly.
- Caramelizing onions slowly enhances the sweetness and depth of flavor.
- This dish pairs well with a dollop of dairy-free yogurt and fresh herbs.
Keywords: Mujadara recipe, lentils and rice, caramelized onions, Middle Eastern vegetarian dish, easy lentil recipe
Find it online: https://biteandenjoy.com/mujadara-recipe/
