Mujadara – Lentils and Rice with Crispy Caramelized Onions

Ingredients:

Preparation mode:

👉 Mujadara is a classic Levantine dish of lentils and rice topped with a mountain of dark, crispy onions. It’s vegan, filling, very cheap – and one of the most satisfying things you can cook in one pot.

Don’t rush the onions: their deep caramel colour is where all the flavour comes from.

How to Make Mujadara

1. Pre-cook the lentils. Cover the lentils with water, bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes until almost tender. Drain.
2. Fry the onions. Heat the olive oil in a wide pot and fry the onions over medium-high heat for 20–25 minutes, stirring often, until dark brown and crisp. Take out half for the topping and drain them on paper towel.
3. Toast the spices. Add the cumin and cinnamon to the onions left in the pot and stir for 30 seconds.
4. Cook the rice. Add the rice, lentils, water, 1 tsp salt and some pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and cook on the lowest heat for 18–20 minutes until the water is absorbed.
5. Rest and serve. Rest for 5 minutes with the lid on, fluff with a fork and pile the crispy onions on top. Serve with yogurt and a fresh salad.

👉 More comfort food from around the world: 25 Cozy Comfort Food Recipes

Footnotes:

Tip: a pinch of salt and a dusting of flour on the onions before frying makes them extra crispy.

Storage: keeps 4 days in the fridge; store the crispy onions separately.