Description
Mujadara is a comforting Middle Eastern dish featuring tender brown or green lentils and fluffy long-grain rice, perfectly seasoned with warm spices and topped with sweet caramelized onions. This vegetarian and flavorful recipe combines cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and lemon juice for a balanced, aromatic meal that can be served warm or at room temperature, ideal alongside yogurt or tzatziki.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 yellow onions
- 1 and ½ tsp. ground cumin
- 1 and ½ tsp. ground coriander
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 cup brown or green lentils
- 4 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 cinnamon stick (optional)
- 1 and ¼ cups long-grain white rice (such as Basmati), rinsed
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- Juice of one lemon
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté Onions: Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a medium saucepan. Dice one onion and sauté it over medium heat until golden brown, about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Add Spices and Lentils: Stir in ground cumin, ground coriander, cinnamon, and kosher salt. Cook an additional minute until the spices are fragrant. Add the lentils and mix well.
- Cook Lentils and Rice: Pour in water or vegetable broth along with the cinnamon stick if using, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer lentils for 10 minutes. Then add the rinsed rice, stir, and continue simmering covered for 10 to 12 minutes until rice is tender and lentils are cooked (20-22 minutes total). Remove from heat, cover with a clean tea towel and lid, and let steam for 10 minutes.
- Caramelize Onions: While the rice and lentils cook, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and butter in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Halve and slice the two remaining onions, adding them to the skillet. Toss to coat with butter and oil.
- Sauté Until Caramelized: Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes until they turn a deep golden brown. Adjust the heat to prevent burning.
- Combine and Season: Stir the caramelized onions and lemon juice into the lentil and rice mixture. Add fresh parsley if desired. Adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Serve: Serve Mujadara warm or at room temperature, optionally accompanied by yogurt or tzatziki sauce on the side.
Notes
- To keep the dish vegetarian, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Rinsing the rice removes excess starch and prevents clumping.
- Caramelizing onions slowly ensures deep, sweet flavor without burning.
- Letting the dish steam with the lid and towel helps the rice finish cooking perfectly fluffy.
- Mujadara can be served as a main dish or a side, and pairs well with tangy yogurt-based sauces.
- For a vegan version, substitute the butter with a plant-based alternative or additional olive oil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Keywords: Mujadara, Lentils and Rice, Middle Eastern, Vegetarian, Caramelized Onions, Comfort Food
