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    Home » Mediterranean recipes

    Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions

    Published: Jan 22, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    6441 shares
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    Jump to Recipe

    Mujadara is a simple Lebanese lentil and rice dish with crispy onions that's packed with flavor. This lentils and rice recipe calls for only a few ingredients and is very easy to make.

    Mujadara is a simple lebanse lentil and rice dish with crispy onions that's packed with flavors. You can serve it with a simple salad.

    The recipes I have on this blog tend to be simple yet really delicious and this mujadara is no different. Just like Lebanese vermicelli rice, Turkish rice pilaf with orzo or Persian lentil rice, this dish is also made with a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand. It's an inexpensive dish that comes together in no time. Your whole family will love it!

    Table Of Contents:
    • What is mujadara?
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More lentil recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    What is mujadara?

    Mujadara, also known as mujaddara, , mujadarah, mejadra, mudardara and moujadara, is a lentil and rice dish of originating in the Levant. One of the first mujadara recipes was found in Iraq and included rice, lentils and meat.

    Mujaddara used to be served as a celebration dish but when served without meat was considered a meal for poor people. This easy vegan recipe will amaze you by how simple yet outstanding it is. Once you give it a try, you will always go back for seconds and thirds!

    Ingredients

    Rice - This dish is made with white rice and you can use long grain or short grain. My preference is basmati rice because it gets nice and fluffy after cooking. If you prefer using brown rice, you need to adjust the cooking time as it will take longer to cook.

    Lentils - Traditionally, you need dark brown lentils for mujadara which are a bit difficult to find in regular supermarkets. These special brown lentils are available online or at Middle Eastern shops. Here I used regular green lentils that you can find in every supermarket.

    Spices - You need a combination of salt, cinnamon and cumin. If you're not a fan of cinnamon you can just leave it out.

    Onion - All the flavor of this dish comes from the onions. Use at least 4 onions for this recipe. You need two to cook with the rice and lentils and two to fry and top the dish.

    Ingredients to make Lebanese rice and lentils are rice, lentils, onion, olive oil, cinnamon and cumin.

    Instructions

    Fry the onions

    Heat some olive oil over medium heat and start frying the sliced onions until they are golden brown. Caramelized onions are what bring so much flavor to this lentil and rice recipe.

    The key is to caramelize the onions on medium heat and keep a close eye on them. You don't want them to be super soft and mushy, you want them to keep their shape yet be all golden and brown. We will top our our dish with this caramelized onion. 

    Cook the rice and lentils

    Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion and once it's golden, add in lentils and give it a nice stir for about two minutes. Next, add in the rice and cook for about a minute. Season with cumin, cinnamon and salt and then add the water.

    Bring to simmer and then cover and cook until lentils and rice are fully cooked. If the water is completely absorbed but the rice and lentils are not fully cooked, add ⅛ cup more water and cook for some more minutes.

    Once the rice and lentils are completely cooked, start plating. Fill a platter with mujadara and then top it with the fried onion. Serve warm.

    to make mujadara saute onions then cook rice and lentils and top with fried onions.

    Serving suggestions

    Mujadara is a complete meal on its own and it would go so well with a bowl of yogurt (check out my instructions to make homemade yogurt) or fresh salad such as fattoush or salad shirazi. You can also serve mujaddara with some grilled chicken, lamb or beef. It even makes a great side dish for beef shish kabob with toum or chicken shish kabob.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I make this recipe with other types of rice?

    You sure can. Mujaddara is typically made with long grain rice such as basmati rice but you can use jasmine or even brown rice. However, you should modify the cooking time and the amount of water according to the type of rice you use.

    Can I make this lentil rice recipe in advance? 

    Absolutely! You can make mujaddara ahead of time and simply heat it right before serving. However, I strongly suggest you make the caramelized onion fresh as it will taste so much better. You can make the caramelized onion as the rice is heating. 

    Can I freeze mujadara?

    Rice and lentil freezes so well. Therefore you can make a big batch and use some for your meal prep and freeze the rest. Simply transfer the rice and lentils into freezer safe containers and freeze for up to three months. To serve, you can either use a microwave or transfer the rice to a small pot and add ⅓ cup water, cover and heat over medium low until warm and heated through. 

    Two bowl of Lebanese lentil rice topped with caramelized onion and served with a simple salad.

    More lentil recipes

    • Easy Mediterranean Green Lentil Soup
    • Easy Chicken Lentil Soup Recipe
    • Mediterranean Lentil Salad Recipe
    • Adasi Persian Lentil Soup Recipe

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Mujadara Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    Mujadara is a simple Lebanese lentil and rice dish with crispy onions that's packed with flavor. This lentils and rice recipe calls for only a few ingredients and is very easy to make.
    4.77 from 46 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 35 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Mediterranean, middle eastern
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 761 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Caramelized Onion

    • 5 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 onions thinly sliced

    Mujadara

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 onions chopped
    • 1 ½ cup lentils
    • 1 ½ cup long grain rice
    • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 4 cups water
    • 1 ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    Caramelized onion

    • Heat olive oil over in a pan over medium heat. Cook onions until brown and golden. Set aside. 

    Mujadara

    • Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Saute onion until golden brown.
    • Add in lentils and cook for two to three minutes. 
    • Add rice, cumin and cinnamon to the lentils. Stir well so everything is completely combined. 
    • Pour water into the pot with salt, bring to simmer and let it cook for about 30-40 minutes until the lentil and rice is completely cooked. 
    • Mix the lentils and rice with caramelized onion and serve with plain yogurt and salad. 

    Notes

    • You can use jasmine or brown rice for Mujadara recipe but cooking time will be different. 
    • Check the rice after 30 minutes and if it's not cooked, add ¼ cup more water. 
    • You can use other kinds of rice such as medium grain rice or even brown rice. Remember the cooking time and the amount of water used would vary depending on the type of rice you're using. 
    • Freezing instructions: Transfer the rice and lentils into freezer safe containers and freeze for up to three months. To serve, you can either use a microwave or transfer the rice to a small pot and add ⅓ cup water, cover and heat over medium low until warm and heated through. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 761kcalCarbohydrates: 107gProtein: 25gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 897mgPotassium: 901mgFiber: 25gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 28IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 7mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Taylor

      August 09, 2022 at 5:21 am

      5 stars
      Super easy to make with the best textures and flavors. We loved it!

      Reply
    2. Gina

      January 20, 2022 at 7:01 am

      5 stars
      This lentil recipe was everything I was looking for. Easy, quick, and full of flavor! My family and I really enjoyed it and I know I will be making this again soon!

      Reply
    3. Liz

      January 19, 2022 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      I'm always looking for new ways to eat lentils so this is perfect! I feel like I could eat the crispy onions by the spoonful!

      Reply
    4. Diana

      January 11, 2022 at 10:40 am

      5 stars
      I haven't tried a mujaddara dish yet. I really appreciated the step-by-step pictures so I know I'm following along right.

      Reply
    5. wilhelmina

      January 11, 2022 at 9:50 am

      5 stars
      This was really, really delicious! I enjoyed the leftovers for lunch the nest day also, yum!

      Reply
    6. Pam Shoulder

      August 31, 2021 at 12:48 am

      Waaay above expectations - my family loved it. I forgot about the yoghurt, which i think would have definately helped - personally found it was a bit dry. I also cooked the lentils & rice separately which may have changed the flavour a bit, but as i said - a winner - thank you!

      Reply
    7. Nellie Tracy

      June 01, 2021 at 11:09 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! Will definitely be making a lot!

      Reply
    8. Ashley

      June 01, 2021 at 11:03 am

      5 stars
      This was perfect for dinner. I will definitely make it again!

      Reply
    9. Antoine Dehne

      February 01, 2021 at 7:11 am

      The lady was correct this is called mudardara! Mujadara become more together after cooking

      Reply
    10. veenaazmanov

      January 25, 2021 at 8:37 pm

      5 stars
      Easy, quick and a comforting meal too. Full of nutrition and health. I love it.

      Reply
    11. kylie

      January 25, 2021 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      This is so yummy and the perfect side to go with my lemon and garlic chicken!

      Reply
      • Shadi HasanzadeNemati

        January 27, 2021 at 11:27 am

        Thank you Kylie! The chicken sounds delicious!

        Reply
    12. Wanda

      January 25, 2021 at 6:57 pm

      5 stars
      I've never heard of this dish before but really been into finding more plant based recipes! Thanks for sharing, I'm bookmarking!

      Reply
    13. Jo

      January 25, 2021 at 6:49 pm

      5 stars
      I just found my dream Lebanese recipe. Holding on to this one for sure 🙂

      Reply
    14. Irina

      January 25, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      WOW! What an amazing recipe combined with lentils and rice! I made it tonight, and it turned out deliciously!

      Reply
    15. Suzi Zolas

      August 16, 2020 at 4:14 pm

      5 stars
      We had a late start making dinner and I saw this dish in an email and it immediately became dinner because of how easy it was. The smell of it while it was cooking... drool worthy.

      Reply
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