Mujadara is simple but surprisingly delicious Middle Eastern food of gastronomical heritage. Healthy and fragrant, it has spread from its birthplace across borders to become passionate fans everywhere on earth.
Vegetarians or seeking authentic recipes for mujadara, continue and be guided through the process of preparing and enjoying this classic health food.
What is Mujadara?
Mujadara (also mejadra, moujadara, or mjaddara) is a Middle Eastern everyday dish made up mainly of lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. It is eaten every day in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine to varying extents. The mix of salty lentils, tender rice or bulgur, and extremely sweet onions gives the typical flavor to mujadara.
Mujadara is also known as “poor man’s food,” but don’t let that fool you. With quality ingredients and technique, you’ll be cooking the best mujadara recipe—warm, aromatic, and satisfyingly hearty.
Ingredients
If you’d rather make a traditional mujadara Lebanese recipe, you will need:
- 1 cup brown or green lentils
- ¾ cup long-grain rice (bulgur coarse for variety)
- 3 large onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp ground coriander (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups water or vegetable broth
- Optional: pinch of allspice or cinnamon for extra flavor
Note: Some conventional mujadara recipes that utilize bulgur instead of rice also are available. If you prefer the nutty flavor and rapid preparation, you can prepare the mujadara bulgur version.
Preparing the Best Mujadara Recipe
Below is a step-by-step guide recipe on how to prepare the best mujadara recipe at home:
1. Caramelize the Onions
- Place a pot or frying pan filled with olive oil.
- Sauté thinly cut onions in low heat for 20–30 minutes until golden and caramelized.
- Keep stirring constantly and don’t hurry—this is magic time.
- Set aside some of the caramelized onions for use as garnish later.
2. Cook the Lentils
- Drain lentils and place in water or veg broth pan.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender but not soft.
- Drain any excess water as necessary.
3. Add Rice and Spices
- Add rice (or bulgur), cumin, salt, pepper, and any other spices of choice to the lentils.
- Then pour water or broth to cover ½ inch.
- Lower heat and cook 15–20 minutes longer until liquid is absorbed and rice and lentils are done.
4. Mix with Onions
- Add most of the caramelized onions.
- Allow mujadara to rest, covered, 10 minutes to steam.
5. Serve
- Fluff with fork, topping with reserved onions, and serve at room temperature or warmed.
If you want a fast mujadara recipe, go ahead and make the onions ahead of time. Scramble the rest of the dish together in 30 minutes.
How to Prepare Mujadara
If you wish to buy a true mujadara recipe, do the following:
- Use good olive oil: It releases the sweetness of the caramelized onions.
- Don’t skip the caramelizing: The step delivers rich, sweet flavor.
- Texture adjustment: Mush is good with some, fine al dente with others. Balance cooking time and liquid.
- Rice or Bulgur: Rice gives fluffier texture; bulgur gives softer, chewier texture.
- Depth of flavor add: Add bay leaf or garlic clove during simmering for depth of flavor.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of cayenne or chili for more kick.
There are a lot of different kinds of mujadara recipes, but the approach and the love don’t change.
Serving Mujadara
Mujadara is a flexible food and can be served in many different ways:
- Main course: Serve warm and plain tzatziki or yogurt on the side.
- Side course: With grilled meat or with falafel.
- With salads: Serve with fatoush or cucumber-tomato salad.
- With pickles: With olives or Lebanese turnips that have been pickled, for extra flavor.
- As leftovers: Mujadara actually tastes better the second day once the flavors have a chance to mature and blend.
It is usually served as a vegan main dish, and thus also suitable for vegetarians.
Storage
Another reason why mujadara is such a ubiquitous dish in Middle Eastern homes across the board is that it stores so nicely.
- Refrigerator: Keep in covered container for 4–5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in batches for 2 months.
- Reheating: Reheat in pan or microwave with a small amount of water or broth so that it doesn’t get dry.
This simple mujadara recipe leftover can be used to create wraps or salad bowls for meal prep.
Classic Lebanese Mujadara Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup green or brownlentils
- ¾ cup long-grain rice (or bulgur)
- 3 pcs big onions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1½ tsp cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups water or vegetable broth
Instructions
- Brown lentils slowly with water in another pan until tender but not mushy (15 minutes) after washing.
- Caramelize low heat in olive oil for 25–30 minutes.
- Add lentils, water, rice, and spices. Boil 15–20 minutes, or until rice is done.
- Scramble in onions, cover, and stand 10 minutes.
- Fluff and serve with saved onions.
FAQs
If you are wondering about the dish mujadara, then here are a few questions that are asked by others that you might find helpful.
Yes, rice. And if you’re serving with bulgur, not gluten-free, anyway.
No. Canned lentils are too soft and mushy. Dried lentils are better textured to the best mujadara recipes.
Basmati long-grain white rice or jasmine works best in the best mujadara recipe. Brown rice can be substituted but will cook more slowly.
It shortens cooking time, particularly for lentils. Sauté onions in advance for the best flavor.
It has always been served cold or room temperature, traditionally speaking, but it’s lovely cold as a salad ingredient or used as a filling for a wrap.
Mujadara: A Dish that Delivers It All!
Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just beginning your plant-based journey, mujadara is a dish that delivers both flavor and nutrition. With only a few ingredients, it offers endless comfort and versatility.
From authentic mujadara recipe variations to easy mujadara recipes perfect for weeknights, this dish proves that simplicity is sometimes the greatest recipe of all.
The next time you’re in the mood for something warm and comforting, whip up one of these mujadara recipes. You may just be cooking up a new family classic!
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