Levantine Mujadara with Crispy Onions (Printer-friendly)

A delightful dish featuring lentils, rice, and crispy onions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains and Legumes

01 - 1 cup brown or green lentils, rinsed
02 - 3/4 cup long grain rice (basmati or jasmine), rinsed
03 - 3 cups water or vegetable stock

→ Aromatics

04 - 2 medium yellow onions, finely chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1 bay leaf
10 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Crispy Onions

11 - 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced into rings
12 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - Vegetable oil, for frying

→ Garnish

15 - Fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine lentils and 2 cups of water (or stock). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes until the lentils start to soften.
02 - In a large heavy-bottomed pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until golden and translucent, about 7-8 minutes.
03 - Stir in cumin, allspice, cinnamon, and bay leaf; sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Drain any excess water from lentils. Add partially cooked lentils and rinsed rice to the pot.
05 - Add the remaining 1 cup of water (or stock), salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 18–20 minutes until the rice and lentils are tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes.
06 - While the rice and lentils cook, toss sliced onions with flour and salt to coat. In a skillet, heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Fry onions in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
07 - Fluff the lentil and rice mixture with a fork. Transfer to a serving platter, top generously with crispy onions, and sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired. Serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • A wholesome vegetarian main dish packed with protein and fiber.
  • Simple, pantry-friendly ingredients you likely already have.
  • Easy to make with minimal hands-on cooking time.
  • Versatile as a warm meal or enjoyed at room temperature.
  • Crispy fried onions add irresistible texture and flavor contrast.
02 -
  • Do not overcook lentils in the first step; they should be just tender before combining with rice.
  • Sauté onions slowly to develop sweetness without burning for best flavor.
  • When frying onions, keep oil hot but not smoking to get crisp, non-greasy results.
  • Let the pot rest covered after cooking to ensure fluffy rice and lentils.
  • Use a slotted spoon to drain fried onions to prevent sogginess.
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