Lebanese Mujadara

Method7 steps

1. 1

   Step 1: Put the sliced onions (3) and ½ cup olive oil in a wide non-stick pan. Cook over high heat for the first few minutes, then reduce to the lowest setting and caramelise for 35–40 minutes, checking from 35 minutes. Stir every few minutes to prevent burning. Once deeply caramelised, set the pan off the heat and keep the onions and oil for later steps.

   Check caramelised onions · 35 minUses 3 large onions, sliced into strips · ½ cup regular olive oil, for caramelising onions

2. 2

   Step 2: Wash the dry lentils (1 cup) in clean water and discard the wash water. Put the lentils in a separate pot with the 5 cups cold cooking water.

   Uses 1 cup dry lentils · Clean water to wash lentils and rice; discarded · 5 cups cold water for lentils

3. 3

   Step 3: Bring the lentil pot from step 2 to a boil, reduce to medium heat and cook for around 20 minutes. Check a lentil; continue until nearly cooked before adding the rice.

   Check nearly cooked lentils · 20 minUses Complete lentil-and-cooking-water pot; discarded wash water excluded

4. 4

   Step 4: Wash the cup of dry rice (1 cup) in clean water and drain it, discarding the washing water. Add the drained rice to the nearly cooked lentil pot from step 3.

   Uses Complete nearly cooked lentil pot · 1 cup dry rice, short or long grain · Clean water to wash lentils and rice; discarded

5. 5

   Step 5: Add approximately 1 teaspoon salt, the cumin (¼ teaspoon) and seven spice to the lentil-rice pot from step 4. Stir in one-quarter of the caramelised onions from step 1 and any excess oil from their pan. Reserve the remaining three-quarters of the onions for topping.

   Uses Complete lentil-and-uncooked-rice pot · Approximately 1 teaspoon salt · ¼ teaspoon ground cumin · ¼ teaspoon Lebanese seven spice · One-quarter of the caramelised onions from step 1 · Excess oil from the caramelised-onion pan, as available

6. 6

   Step 6: Bring the seasoned pot from step 5 back to a gentle simmer, cover and cook on low for around 20 minutes. Check the rice and lentils are fully tender; continue gently if needed. Taste and add more salt only if needed.

   Check tender rice and lentils · 20 minUses Complete seasoned lentil-rice pot · Extra salt to taste if needed

7. 7

   Step 7: Serve the cooked mujadara from step 6 topped with the reserved three-quarters of the caramelised onions from step 1. Serve with ready cabbage or spinach salad, or plain yogurt, if desired.

   Uses Complete cooked mujadara · Remaining three-quarters of the caramelised onions from step 1 · Optional ready cabbage or spinach salad to serve · Optional ready plain yogurt to serve