Best 6 Mujadara Recipes

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.

ONE-POT MUJADARA WITH LEEKS AND GREENS

Steps:

• Place lentils in a large bowl and add warm tap water to cover by 1 inch. Let soak.
• Meanwhile, halve leeks lengthwise; run under warm water to release any grit. Thinly slice leeks crosswise.
• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer half the leeks to a bowl to use for garnish and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Stir garlic into the pot with the remaining leeks and cook for 15 seconds until fragrant. Stir in rice and sauté 2 minutes. Stir in cumin, allspice and cayenne; sauté 30 seconds.
• Drain lentils and stir into pot. Add 4 1/4 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Rinse greens in a colander and spread damp leaves over lentil mixture. Cover and cook 5 minutes more, until rice and lentils are tender and greens are wilted. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with reserved crispy leeks.

ONE-POT MUJADARA WITH CRISPY LEEKS AND SPRING GREENS

Steps:

• Place lentils in a large bowl and add warm tap water to cover by 1 inch. Let soak.
• Meanwhile, halve leeks lengthwise; run under warm water to release any grit. Thinly slice leeks crosswise.
• Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer half the leeks to a bowl to use for garnish and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Stir garlic into the pot with the remaining leeks and cook for 15 seconds until fragrant. Stir in rice and sauté 2 minutes. Stir in cumin, allspice and cayenne; sauté 30 seconds.
• Drain lentils and stir into pot. Add 4-1/4 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Rinse greens in a colander and spread damp leaves over lentil mixture. Cover and cook 5 minutes more, until rice and lentils are tender and greens are wilted. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with reserved crispy leeks.

ONEONE-POT MUJADARA WITH CRISPY LEEKS AND SPRING GREENS

Steps:

• Place lentils in a large bowl and add warm tap water to cover by 1 inch. Let soak. 2. Meanwhile, halve leeks lengthwise; run under warm water to release any grit. Thinly slice leeks crosswise. 3. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer half the leeks to a bowl to use for garnish and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. 4. Stir garlic into the pot with the remaining leeks and cook for 15 seconds until fragrant. Stir in rice and sauté 2 minutes. Stir in cumin, allspice and cayenne; sauté 30 seconds. 5. Drain lentils and stir into pot. Add 4 1/4 cups water, 2 teaspoons salt, bay leaf and cinnamon stick. Bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Rinse greens in a colander and spread damp leaves over lentil mixture. Cover and cook 5 minutes more, until rice and lentils are tender and greens are wilted. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Serve sprinkled with reserved crispy leeks.

MUJADARA

Steps:

• Saute onion in oil until caramelized (about 50 minutes).
• While onions are cooking place lentils in saucepan and cover with water by an inch. Bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Drain lentils and set aside.
• When onions are ready stir in rice, lentils, salt and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer.
• Simmer for 40 minutes or until rice is tender.

MUJADARA

Steps:

• To make the hot sauce Combine yogurt and chili paste, set aside To make the lentils and rice Cover the lentils with water and cook until tender. In another pot sauté the chopped medium onion in 1 Tbls of olive oil until translucent then add the rice, cumin, cinnamon stick, all spice, tsp of and stock. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer until the rice is cooked through. Once the rice is finished mix the lentils in and keep warm To make the crispy onion garnish. Slice the 2 Large onions heat the remaining 3 tbls of olive oil in a sauté pan large enough to accommodate all the sliced onions adding a little salt as they saute. When the onions go in they should sizzle. Saute the onions on high heat stirring frequently until they turn brown then reduce the heat slightly and continue to cook until they have small dark spots and are crispy To make the salad garnish Combine lemon juice, cucumber, mint and ground sumac in a bowl To serve- Spoon some mujudara on the plate then top with the crispy onions. Serve the salad and yogurt hot sauce on the side.