Mujadara - Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions

Ian Kloo | May 1, 2020, 3:05 p.m.

Apparently, a staple dish in the Middle East. Really easy to make.

Ingredients

• 4 garlic cloves - smashed
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 T. cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• Pepper (to taste)
• 5 c. water
• 1 c. rice - white or brown
• 1 c. green lentils
• Olive oil
• Large yellow onion

Directions

1. Combine garlic, bay leaves, cumin, salt, pepper, and water in a pot (wider is better) and bring to a boil
2. If using brown rice:
   1. Stir in rice and reduce heat to med/low.  Cover and cook, stirring occasionally  for 10 minutes
   2. Stir in lentils and cover.  Cook until liquid is gone, about 20 minutes
3. If using white rice:
   1. Stir in lentils and reduce heat to med/low.  Cover and cook, stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
   2. Stirr in rice and cover.  Cook until liquid is gone, about 25 minutes.
4. With about 20 minutes left, start to caramelize the onions
   1. Heat a large pan with olive oil
   2. Add onions, stirring every few minutes at the beginning and more frequently as they start to brown
5. Salt/season to taste
6. Serve with the onions on the side or mix them in