Red Lentil Mujadara Recipe
Red Lentil Mujadara is a comforting Middle Eastern dish combining tender red lentils and medium grain rice with caramelized onions. This simple, hearty recipe cooks the lentils and rice together with warm water until perfectly tender, offering a wholesome, flavorful meal that pairs wonderfully with salad and pita bread.
- Author: nova
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 onions, diced
- 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 4 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup medium grain rice, rinsed and drained
- Prepare Ingredients: Wash and drain the rice and red lentils thoroughly, then set them aside to ensure they are clean and ready for cooking.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes. Add the diced onions and stir well to coat them evenly with the oil. Continue stirring frequently until the onions become caramelized, crisp around the edges, and develop a golden brown color, which should take about 10 minutes.
- Add Lentils and Rice: Mix the rinsed red lentils and rice into the caramelized onions, stirring well to combine all ingredients.
- Cook with Water: Pour in the warm water, cover the skillet with a lid, and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, keep the skillet covered, and allow the mixture to cook until the water is fully absorbed and both the rice and lentils are tender. This should take about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the skillet.
- Serve: Transfer the Red Lentil Mujadara immediately to serving plates while still hot. It can be enjoyed hot, warm, or at room temperature, ideally accompanied by your favorite salad and pita bread.
Notes
- Make sure to rinse lentils and rice well to remove impurities and excess starch.
- Caramelizing the onions slowly is key to developing the dish’s rich flavor.
- Keep the pot covered while cooking to allow even steaming of lentils and rice.
- You can adjust salt to taste after cooking.
- Serve with a fresh salad and warm pita for a complete meal.
Keywords: Red Lentil Mujadara, mujaddara, lentils and rice, Middle Eastern lentil recipe, caramelized onions, vegan lentil dish, easy lentil recipe