Description
Mujadara is a comforting Middle Eastern dish made with lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. It’s budget-friendly, naturally vegan, and packed with earthy, savory flavor—perfect as a main or side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown or green lentils
- 1 cup long-grain white or basmati rice
- 2 large yellow or sweet onions, thinly sliced
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground cumin (optional)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 cups water or vegetable broth
- Optional toppings: chopped parsley, lemon wedges, plain yogurt, crispy onions
Instructions
- Rinse the lentils and cook in a pot of water until just tender, about 15–20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat and sauté sliced onions, stirring frequently, until deep golden and caramelized—about 25–30 minutes. Set aside a portion for topping.
- In a pot, combine rice, cooked lentils, 3 cups of water or broth, salt, pepper, and cumin (if using).
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Turn off the heat and let sit, covered, for 5–10 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork, top with reserved caramelized onions, and serve with optional garnishes.
Notes
- Add a pinch of allspice or cinnamon for extra warmth.
- Try using bulgur instead of rice for a traditional variation.
- Serve with yogurt, salad, or flatbread for a complete meal.
- Mujadara can be made in one pot by caramelizing onions first, then cooking rice and lentils in the same pot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
