Middle Eastern · Dinner

Mujadara Recipe

This mujadara recipe makes the Levantine dish of brown lentils and rice cooked together with cumin and topped with a pile of slowly browned onions. It is one of the oldest, cheapest and most comforting dishes in Arab home cooking.

Traditionally the onions are fried in plenty of oil; here they are browned slowly in less, which still gives deep, sweet flavour.

Serves

4

Prep

10 min

Cook

50 min

Per serving

490 kcal

Ingredients

  • 200 g brown or green lentils, rinsed
  • 150 g long-grain rice, rinsed
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Plain yogurt to serve
  • Cucumber and tomato salad to serve

Method

  1. 1Simmer the lentils in 1 litre water for 15 minutes until just tender. Don't drain.
  2. 2Meanwhile, cook the onions in the oil with a pinch of salt over medium heat for 25–30 minutes, stirring more often as they darken, until deep brown and some are crisp. Lift out about a third for the topping.
  3. 3Add the cumin to the remaining onions, then the rice, and stir for a minute.
  4. 4Add the lentils with their liquid (you need about 450 ml; top up with water if needed) and salt. Cover and cook on low for 15–18 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid absorbed.
  5. 5Rest for 5 minutes, fluff, and top with the reserved onions. Serve with yogurt and salad.

Mujadara recipe: nutrition per serving

Calories

490 kcal

Protein

22 g · 18%

Carbs

76 g · 62%

Fat

11 g · 21%

One of 4 servings. Estimated from the ingredient weights above and per-100 g values in USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy); brands and cooking change the real numbers.

Tips

  • The onions are the flavour: take them to deep brown, not just golden.
  • Bulgur instead of rice gives mujadara burghul, common in Syria and Lebanon.

Swaps and variations

  • Vegan: serve with a tahini sauce or plain salad instead of yogurt.
  • Gluten-free with rice; not with bulgur.

Storage

Keeps 4 days in the fridge. Re-crisp the onion topping in a dry pan.

Plan a week of Middle Eastern meals

See the 7-day Middle Eastern meal plan, or let Meal Planner Pro build a week in your cuisines, sized to your calorie target, with a grocery list.

Create My Meal Plan

Plans from $8.99/week. No free plan or trial. See pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

Lentils and rice together supply all the essential amino acids, so the dish makes a solid vegetarian main. Yogurt on the side adds more protein.

Sources: USDA FoodData Central records used