Lebanese Mujadara Recipes

LEBANESE MUJADARA

Steps:

• In a wide non stick pan, add the sliced onions and the olive oil. Turn the heat high for the first 2-3 minutes then reduce to the lowest setting and caramalise for 35-40 minutes, sautéing every few minutes so as not to burn on one side.
• Soak the rice in water for around half an hour and set aside
• Wash the lentils and add to a pot along with the 5 cups of water
• Bring the lentils to the boil then reduce to medium heat while they cook
• After 20 minutes of the lentils cooking, check one and if it is nearly done, add the drained cup of rice
• Add the salt and spices, a quarter of the onions as well as any excess oil from the onions which should be nearly done by now.
• Cover the rice with a lid and cook for another 20 minutes on low. Taste and adjust the salt as necessary.
• Serve with salad or yoghurt.

LEBANESE MUJADARA

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat one tablespoon of oil with one teaspoon of cumin and finely sliced onions. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Then, remove the lid and let the onions carmelise for 10 more minutes while stirring.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil and spices in a large pan. Add the lentils, rice, and sizzle until well coated.
• Then, pour in the stock and simmer for 25 minutes until the water has been absorbed.
• Stir in the caramelized onions and serve with fresh coriander.

MUJADARA (LEBANESE LENTILS AND RICE)

Steps:

• Over high heat olive oil in pot and add finely sliced onion, fry until dark brown, set onion aside
• In the same pot, using same oil fry finely diced onion until lightly golden
• Add lentils and salt. Submerge in water (covering lentils at least 1cm above), cook on med-high heat until lentils are par boiled
• Add rice and bring to the boil, reduce heat to low and allow contents to cook, stirring no more than three times. This should take around 15 minutes
• Serve topped with caramelised onion

LEBANESE MUJADARA

Steps:

• Rinse lentils, strain and place in a large pot with 5 cups of water. Bring mixture to a boil, simmer and cook covered until the lentils are tender but not fully cooked, about 15 minutes. Most of the liquid should be absorbed.
• Rinse the rice, then transfer to the pot of lentils and season with salt. Add 2 cups water, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook covered until the rice is tender, about 18 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Allow the rice to rest in the pot for about 5 minutes, without opening the lid, to absorb all the liquid and steam.
• In a separate large pan, heat two tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat and fry the chopped onions until golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. Transfer on top of the lentils and rice mixture, add cumin and toss to combine.
• In the same large pan used to cook the onions, heat the remaining olive oil on medium heat and fry the sliced onions until golden brown and caramelized, about 15 minutes. In the last couple minutes of frying the onions, you can turn up the heat to high to get a crispy texture.
• Serve the caramelized onions on top of mujadara with yogurt and mint, if desired,

LEBANESE LENTILS, RICE AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS (MUJADARA)

Steps:

• Throw the lentils into a medium saucepan. Fill with enough cold water to cover the lentils by about an inch. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn down to a simmer and cook until the lentils are tender but not mushy, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, as the lentils cook, grab a large skillet. Pop it over medium-high heat and add the oil. Allow the oil to warm for a minute, then drop in the cumin seeds and cracked peppercorns and cook, shaking the pan once in a while until the cumin seeds darken a touch, about 1 minute.
• Add the onions, sprinkle with a dash of salt and cook until they turn dark caramel brown, stirring often. This will take about 15 minutes. Splash the onions with a little water if they stick to the bottom of the pan. You'll know they're done both by their deep chestnut color and by the slight crispiness developing on some of the onions.
• Using a slotted spoon or spatula, remove about half of the onions to a paper towel-lined plate; these are for garnish later. Sprinkle in the ground cumin, cayenne and then add the cinnamon stick; saute about 1 minute.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring often (but gently so you don't break the rice!) until some rice grains start to brown. Quickly, add the cooked lentils, 3 cups of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt; bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low so that the pan is at a simmer, cover and cook 30 minutes. The water should be completely evaporated and rice should be tender. (If there's still too much water in the bottom, put the lid back on and cook for another 5 minutes.)
• Turn off the heat, keep the lid on, and allow the rice to steam undisturbed for about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts, if using, in a small skillet over medium-low heat, shaking often, about 5 minutes.
• Taste the rice for seasoning. Serve with the reserved caramelized onions, toasted pine nuts, if using, and a little squeeze of lemon juice. I also like to serve this with some dollops of Greek yogurt.

MUJADDARA ARABIC LENTIL RICE

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, the cumin, and garlic powder in a pot over medium heat; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and cook until the lentils begin to soften, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Stir the rice, 3/4 cup water, 1 teaspoon salt, and the olive oil into the lentils. Cover the pot and continue cooking until the lentils and rice are tender, about 40 minutes.
• Heat the cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook the onions in the oil until browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Spread the onions over the rice and lentil mixture to serve.

LEBANESE LENTILS (MUJADARA)

Steps:

• Heat oil in pan.
• add onions, and cook on medium high heat until they are brown- stir occasionally.
• stir in rice and lentils, mix in with onions.
• add water.
• add salt, mix contents.
• cover and simmer.
• This will take over an hour. The water will be absorbed into rice and lentils. Make sure they are soft. Sometimes you may need to add a little more water. Stir occasionally.
• Best if served in a shallow bowl, and let sit for 10 minutes or so. Enjoy warm or cold.