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What is mujadara?
Mujaddara (also called mudardara or megadarra), is a delicious rice and lentil recipe eaten widely across the Arabic world. This one-pot medley of onions, rice and lentils is delicious proof that the simplest of recipes can also be the most satisfying. The bulk of the flavor in mujadara comes from onions fried to a rich, deep, smoky, savory sweetness. When those crispy onions mingle with the tender rice and lentils, they create such magic, your tastebuds will do the tango. Albeit meatless, a mujaddara is hearty and satisfying and it’s a great dish to serve to an omnivore.
Why you will love this recipe
Delicious, one-dish meal. My mujadara recipe has everything you want in a complete meal: proteins from the rice and lentil combination, and veggies, including the onions and leeks. Simple and affordable recipe. The three main ingredients in this recipe – rice, lentils and onions – are all easy on the wallet. Healthy. This mujadara is loaded with protein, fiber, and tons of nutrients. Soy-free, nut-free, gluten-free and vegan
Ingredients
Rice. Use any long-grain white rice, including jasmine rice or basmati. Whole brown lentils. These are nutty and delicious and add tons of hearty flavor. Onions. You will need two large onions for this recipe. I used red onions but yellow onions are fine too. Garlic Leeks. Although not a traditional ingredient, the leeks add amazing flavor and make this mujaddara even more nutritious. Spices: Ground cumin, ground allspice, bay leaves, cayenne (optional) and cinnamon. Extra virgin olive oil
How to make mujadara
Variations
To make this recipe with brown rice, cook the rice separately in a large pot of boiling water with the spices added, until the rice is about 70 percent done. Strain out all the water before using. To add more healthfulness to this recipe, I sometimes cook the mujaddara with spinach or other quick-cooking greens. To do this, open the pot after the rice and lentils have been cooking for 15 minutes. Spread four cups of leafy greens (chopped if using larger greens) on top of the mujaddara. Cover and continue cooking for 10 more minutes.
What to serve with mujaddara
There are healthy greens and lentils and rice in the recipe, so it is truly a complete meal. But you can also serve the mujaddara with vegan yogurt or vegan labneh. Check to get new recipe updates by email.
You can also serve the mujadara with a fresh, green salad or this yummy beet salad.
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