Mujaddara (Lentils, Rice and Caramelised Onions)

by Edward Daniel
Pert lentils pan cooked with earthy cumin tender rice topped with sweet caramelised onions, bitter parsley and spring onions; vegan Mujaddara recipe. Edward Daniel ©.

Pert lentils pan cooked with earthy cumin tender rice topped with sweet caramelised onions, bitter parsley and spring onions; Mujaddara.

Galvanise your rocket into action and ride to the moon.

This dish will obliterate any belief that vegan food can’t be easily tossed together.

Make this:

  • When its winter and you feel like a hearty meal with alleviate all those hunger pangs
  • When you’ve had a really tough day. And, to top it all, a well-deserved. Plus,  a comfort dish that’s nourishing. Yet,  super yummy. No worries, you’ll be relaxing in front of the sofa in no time
  • When you’ve just had a long hike and a dish that will satiate and hit all the high-notes is a prerequisite

Mujaddara (Lentils, Rice and Caramelised Onions) was inspired by a Middle-Eastern friend who’d rustled this up for me. I was in awe with the ease with which dish was made, created my own.

Mujaddara is a frugal dish only requiring basis ingredients of lentils, rice and caramelised onions. I use simple long grain rice and brown lentils.

Mujaddara is vegan and Middle-Eastern cuisine.

What equipment to use

For this recipe, I suggest:

Stove

What to do next

Tag me on @ethiveganquantum on Instagram to show me what you’ve made and let me know you’re happy for me to share.

My recipes are featured in vegan speciality publications: Nourished, Vegan Life, Plant Based and Vegan, Food and Living.

Order my first self-published book, “Essence: The Beginner’s Guide to Veganism” part of the three-part Circle of Food series. My second book “Presence: The Ascending Vegan” – which explores how to maintain a vegan practice is out in 2027 – I have compiled all the chapters including recipes.

Going strong since 2013.

Love.

Edward x

Pert lentils pan cooked with earthy cumin tender rice topped with sweet caramelised onions, bitter parsley and spring onions; vegan Mujaddara recipe. Edward Daniel ©.

Mujaddara

#
Serves: 6 Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 1 voted )

Ingredients

  • 8 medium onions, sliced
  • 6tbs olive oil
  • 2tsp cumin powder
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 250g brown lentils
  • 250g long rice
  • 1.5litre filtered water
  • Season to taste
  • Few sprigs of parsley
  • Spring onion
  • Lemon

Instructions

  1. In a large non-stick saucepan. Toss in the remaining oil. Add in the cumin and cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of water too. Continue cooking for about a minute until you form a paste.
  2. Add the rice to the mixture so that the granules are coated. Then add the remaining water and lentils and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for about 30 minutes. The water should almost evaporate and the rice tender. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  3. Switch off the heat, place the lid on top and allow the mixture to steam for a further 10 minutes.

Top tip – I usually use a clean dishcloth, which I place under and around the lid. This helps give the rice the texture that remaining fluffy texture that I love.

  1. In a separate large non-stick saucepan with lid place 2tbs oil and gently heat over a medium heat. Add the onions and salt. Cover with lid and allow to steam. Turn occasionally as they turn translucent. Reduce to a low heat and then allow to caramelise to a dark brown colour. Return lid and stir occasionally. Don’t worry about burning – as this simply adds to the caramelised flavour. This process should take about 15 to 20 minutes.    Set to one side.
  2. Garnish with a few sprigs of parsley, spring onion, lemon and serve with yoghurt and

 

You may also like