Mujadara | Lebanese Lentils and Rice Recipe
Mujadara is a traditional Lebanese dish featuring a comforting blend of lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. This wholesome, naturally vegan meal is seasoned with cumin and bay leaves, making it hearty, flavorful, and perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Lebanese
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients
- 5 small-medium onions (500 g), sliced
- 1.5 cups (300 g) green or brown lentils
- 1 cup (180 g) brown rice or white rice
- 5 to 5 ½ cups water, divided
- 1 tbsp vegetable bouillon powder
- 1 ½ tsp salt, divided
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 bay leaves
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare Brown Rice: If using brown rice, soak it for 20 minutes, then drain. Add it to a large pot with 2 ½ cups of water. Bring to a boil, then stir in the vegetable bouillon powder, 1 tsp salt, black pepper, and bay leaves. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Prepare Lentils and Onions: Soak lentils in cold water, then drain. Slice onions while rice cooks. Use a mix of yellow and red onions or either type alone.
- Add Lentils and Continue Cooking: After 20 minutes of rice cooking, add drained lentils and 3 cups of water to the pot. Stir, cover, and bring to a boil again. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onions, stir briefly, then reduce heat to medium and cover. Cook for about 10 minutes. Uncover, add cumin and ½ tsp salt, then cook uncovered for 5-10 minutes until onions are deeply caramelized. Increase heat if a crisper texture is desired.
- Check and Finish Cooking Rice and Lentils: Once lentils have cooked for 25 minutes, check tenderness. If needed, simmer a few more minutes. Turn off the heat and let the pot sit covered for a few minutes.
- Combine and Serve: Remove bay leaves. Stir two-thirds of caramelized onions into the rice and lentil mixture. Reserve the rest for garnish. Serve in bowls topped with dairy-free yogurt, reserved caramelized onions, and fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro.
Notes
- Soaking brown rice helps shorten cooking time and improve texture.
- If using white rice, do not soak; cooking times may differ slightly.
- Caramelizing onions slowly over medium heat enhances sweetness and depth of flavor.
- This dish pairs well with dairy-free yogurt or a fresh salad.
- The recipe is naturally vegan and can be adjusted for various dietary needs.
Keywords: Mujadara, Lebanese lentils and rice, vegan lentil recipe, caramelized onions, Middle Eastern cuisine
