our favorite low-cost, healthy side dish/light lunch - Mujadarrah (Middle Eastern cuisine)

[NRaleighLiberal]

we have a good local ME store that have great hot food options - but when we were pondering paying 5.00/lb for Mujadarrah (one of our addictions), we went seeking a way to make it ourselves....and it is so easy and inexpensive (depending upon how much you pay for good, large sweet onions).

AKA lentils and rice with fried onions.

6 tbsp olive oil
3 large sweet onions - peel, slice in half, then into thin slices of each half
1 1/4 cups green, brown or orange (red) lentils
3/4 cup brown long grain rice (we use brown basmati)
1 quart water
1 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper

In a large frying pan, put the oil - heat over medium, add the onions - saute on medium for 15-20 minutes or more - the big pan of onions will cook down considerably - you want them nice and golden brown.

In a large deep pot, put the lentils and water and salt - bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 min. Add the rice and black pepper, cover and simmer for another 15 min (rice should be done, most of the liquid gone - could take another 5-10 min).

Mix half of the sauteed, browned onions (they are amazingly sweet!) into the rice/lentil mixture - adjust to taste for salt and pepper.

Use the remaining onions to top the servings.

This is an amazing comfort food!

[silverweb]

1. Lovely recipe!

I agree completely about the comfort food quality of rice and lentils.

I cook equal parts of rice, quinoa, and lentils, and store the mixture in the refrigerator. Then add some to soups or salads, or use it as a base and add different vegetables, seaweed, sauces, etc.

[GoCubsGo]

2. There is a really good recipe for it in Frances Lappe's "Diet for a Small Planet"

I haven't made it in eons. Time to think about making a batch of it...

[pinto]

3. Sounds good. And a simple lunch, especially for a fall/winter meal.

:thumbsup:

[tigereye]

4. thanks- I love this dish when we go to the Mid-east

restaurants here-thanks for the recipe, since I've been meaning to look one up and then always forget. :D

[pinto]

5. Cut the recipe by a third, added paprika in with rice, made for lunch today. Simple, good stuff.

:thumbsup:

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Great! Nice touch with the paprika!