Mjeddrah Recipes

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, 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.

MUJADARA

Steps:

• 1. Heat the olive oil in a very large nonstick skillet over low heat (if you only have smaller skillets, divide the oil and onions between two). When the oil shimmers, add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• 2. Meanwhile, bring 4 1/2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan or small stockpot and add the lentils. Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes, then add the rice and half the cooked onions. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer, covered, over very low heat until the lentils and rice are tender, about 20 minutes more. You may need to add more water toward the end; check after 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
• 3. While the rice and lentils are cooking, cook the onions remaining in the skillet over low heat, stirring often, until dark brown and nearly crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.
• 4. Serve hot or at room temperature, with browned onions sprinkled on top. Add a dollop of the yogurt or sour cream if desired.

MJEDDRAH (RICE AND LENTIL PILAF)

Steps:

• After soaking lentils and rice (see notes), strain them through a sieve. Rinse in cold water.
• Bring vegetable broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the lentils and rice to the broth. Toss in the bay leaf. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 30 to 40 minutes, until lentils and rice are soft and fluffy and have soaked up all the liquid. Remove cover, remove from heat and set aside.
• Just before serving, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onion and cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes, until onions start to soften and turn golden and fragrant. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, stirring, another 10 minutes or so, until onions are brown and tender. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir lentils and rice together gently. Remove bay leaf and season the rice and lentil mixture generously with salt, pepper and cumin to taste. Serve the pilaf topped with the cooked onions.

MUJADDARAH(LENTIL AND RICE POTTAGE)

Steps:

• Bring water to boil, then add the lentils, lower heat to simmer and cook about 30-60 minutes .
• Meanwhile, saute onions in the oil to caramelize about 15-20 minutes, then add half of onions, rice and seasonings to lentils. Let the mixture boil for a few minutes.
• When it thickens, pour into a tureen, and spread the remaining onions over the top. and serve.
• Yield: 4 servings.

MJEDDRAH

Steps:

• Bring lentils & water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover & simmer for 25 minutes. Heat 2 tb oil in a skillet & saute onions & salt till the onions are transulcent. Heat remaining oil in another skillet & saute the rice for 3 minutes. Combine lentils, rice & onion, cover tightly & simmer till the lentils & rice are render, about 1 hour. You may have to add up to 2 extra cups water. Stir occasionally. Serve with a green salad.

MJEDDRAH (LEBANESE LENTIL RICE)

Steps:

• Saute all vegetables as well as the red chili in 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet. When vegetables are soft and transparent, mix in the cinnamon and place in the slow cooker. For a different flavor, caramelize the vegetables and then add the cinnamon.
• In the same skillet, brown the rice in 1 tbsp olive oil until dry. Add to slow cooker.
• Stir in water and lentils. Cover and cook on high 6-8 hours.
• When thoroughly cooked, serve in individual soup bowls. Top with serving of garden salad with dressing poured over top.

MJEDDRAH

Steps:

• Bring lentils & water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover & simmer for 25 minutes. Heat 2 tb oil in a skillet & saute onions & salt till the onions are transulcent. Heat remaining oil in another skillet & saute the rice for 3 minutes. Combine lentils, rice & onion, cover tightly & simmer till the lentils & rice are render, about 1 hour. You may have to add up to 2 extra cups water. Stir occasionally. Serve with a green salad.

MJEDDRAH

Steps:

• Brown the uncooked lentils and rice in the butter or oil and set aside. Brown the onions in the leftover fat (add more if you need to.) Saute until they are golden. Because of the amount it may take a little while. You might brown in 2 pans if you wish to expedite the browning process. Place all ingredients into a dutch oven and just cover with wate. Bring to a boil and reduce to medium low (as you would cook rice) until the lentils are cooked through, a bit al dente, but definately not a mushy at all. Add more water as necessary, but there shouldn't be any left when finished as with rice. If you are using brown lentils you will reach this point much faster than with the french green lentils. To make the dressing; Juice the lemons and place in a lidded jar (or use the bowl and whisk method.) add the garlic, olive oil, paprika and mint whisk or shake until thoroughly mixed. To Serve: Fix each plate with a 1 inch tall evenly spread amount of lettuce. What you are looking for is a nice flat bed to heap the lentils on. Mound the lentils into a heap in the center of the lettuce. Then press down in the center to create a small well in the lentils to which you will fill with the dressing. Be generous with the dressing it should spill down the sides and onto the lettuce.