Mujadara Hamra Recipes

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:

• 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.

MUJADARA HAMRA (LENTILS & BULGUR)

Steps:

• Check lentils for stones that need to be discarded
• Wash and soak for a couple of hours (I do this to speed up the cooking process)
• After soaking lentils, discard and wash lentils to rid any excess sediment
• Place lentils in a large pot with water, bring to boil
• Cover the pot of lentils and simmer over low heat about 10 minutes or until lentils are par cooked.
• Drain par cooked lentils in a colander and save liquid. You will use this later
• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat
• Cook the onions for about 30-40 minutes, stirring every few minutes until they are dark golden brown. (You'll need to be patient for this step - the onions must be like this as the dish relies on the taste of the caramelised onion)
• Once onions are a dark golden colour, pour the liquid from the lentils into the onions and let it simmer for a couple of minutes to combine.
• Add the cooked lentils, salt (to taste) and cracked wheat (bulgur), stir through thoroughly.
• Cover the saucepan and cook over very low heat for 25-30 minutes.

MUJADARA HAMRA

Steps:

• Chop the onions and add them to a pan with the olive oil, sprinkle with a little salt
• Sauté on medium heat for at least 20 minutes until they turn dark brown (but not burnt!) The more you brown them the more savoury the flavour
• Stand back and slowly add enough boiled water to just cover the onions (it will splutter!) and squish them down with the back of a wooden spoon
• Add just under 1 tablespoon of salt and bring to the boil, cover and simmer on low heat for ten minutes
• Add the lentils and the cold water, turn up the heat until it starts to bubble then reduce the heat to low and leave to cook for around another half hour until the lentils are cooked
• Add the bulgur wheat and simmer for another 15 minutes.
• When the bulgur wheat has soaked up most of the liquid, adjust the salt as necessary, turn off the heat and add a dash of olive oil
• Serve with a side salad or a helping of plain yoghurt