Mujadara: Middle Eastern Lentils and Bulgur (or Rice)

Mujadara is a classic middle-eastern dish made with Lentils, Caramalized Onions and Bulgur (or rice). Midly spiced with cumin, black pepper, red chilli powder (or paprika), all this vegan dish needs as accompaniment is some cold yogurt.

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You can make Mujadara with rice or then you can make it with bulgur; as they do in the Lebanese versions. I have made both versions but in this recipe I have used Bulgur. The variation with rice can be very easily made in Indian homes as all the ingredients needed are commonly available in Indian kitchens.

Using Birista To Make Mujadara

The caramalised onions are the key to making this dish.

The first time I made Mujadara at home, I fried the onions till they are golden brown. But this time around, I have taken a short-cut and used store-bought Birista or the golden-fried onions readily available in India. It saved me a lot of time and was a great time-saving trick (and a much needed one during the crazy-hot summer we had in Mumbai).

In the recipe, I have provided the instructions to make caramalised onions.

Using Rice Instead of Bulgur

Mujadara is made with rice (in fact, it is so in most parts of the middle-east).

When using rice:

• The recipe remains the same, except that you use about 2.25 to 2.5 cups of water.
• You can use Basmati or any short-grained but non-sticky rice.

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Recipes for Other Middle Eastern Dishes You May Enjoy

• The Perfect Falafel
• Basbousa: Middle-Eastern Semolina Cake (Eggless Rava Cake)
• Baba Ganoush: Silky, Smoked Eggplant Dip

How to Make Mujadara

1. Wash 3/4 cup whole masoor (brown lentils) well under running water and set aside to drain in a colander.
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2. Caramalizing the Onions:
   1. Slice 4 big Onions into thin slices. This is about 3 cups of sliced onions.
   2. In a heavy bottomed vessel, over medium-flame, heat about 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil.
   3. Add the sliced onions and stir-fry the onions till they turn golden brown and crisp.
3. If You are Using Birista:
   1. In a heavy-bottomed vessel, over medium flame, heat 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil.
   2. Add 1 Cup Birista and stir-fry for a few seconds.
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4. Rest of the Steps
   1. To the caramalised onions, add 1/2 tsp Paprika or Red Chilli Powder and some salt, and mix well.
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   2. Remove about 1/2 of the fried onions and set aside.
   3. Now, add 1/2 tsp chilli powder and some more salt to the remaining onions and mix well.
   4. Next add the rinsed and drained brown lentils (Masoor) and 1 tsp cumin powder, and mix well.
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   5. Add 3 cups water and bring the mix to a boil.
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   6. When the water starts to boil, add 1/2 cup whole bulgur and mix well.
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   7. Over medium heat, cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes till the lentils and bulgur are both well-cooked and all the water is absorbed.
   8. {Optional} Add 1/2 tsp pepper powder and mix well.
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5. Serving the Mujadara
   1. Divide the Mujadara into 3 or 4 portions.
   2. Garnish each portion with some caramalised onions that we set aside earlier, and finely chopped mint leaves, if you so wish.
   3. Serve warm Mujadara with cold Yogurt or Labneh.   

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Recipe for Mujadara | Lentils, Caramalized Onions, and Bulgur Pilaf

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Mujadara: Pilaf with Brown Lentils, Caramalized Onions, and Bulgur (or Rice)

Aruna

Mujadara is a mildly spiced, traditional middle-eastern dish of whole brown or green lentils and rice or bulgur cooked with caramalized onions. All this hearty vegan dish needs as an accompaniment is some cold some salad or then Yogurt (or Labneh).

PS: As shortcut, I used store-bought Birista (the thinly cut, crisp, deep-fried, caramalised onions we use for Biryani).

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Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Brunch, Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Lebanese, Middle Eastern, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings 4 People

Calories 340 kcal

Equipment

• Heavy-bottomed Wok
• Colander
• Bowl
• Spatula
• Chopping Board and Knife

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3/4 Cup Brown Lentils Green Lentils ((I used Whole Masoor))
• 1/2 Cup Bulgur
• 1 Cup Birista (crisp, caramelized onions) (Or 3 Cups thinly-sliced onions)

Spices

• 1 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 1/2 tsp Pepper Powder (Optional)

Other Ingredients

• 3 Cups Water
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (0.25 Cups if you are caramelizing onions
• Mint Leaves for Garnish
• Salt to Taste

Instructions

 

• Wash 3/4 cup whole masoor (brown lentils) well under running water and set aside to drain in a colander.

Caramalizing the Onions:

• Slice 4 big Onions into thin slices. This is about 3 cups of sliced onions.
• In a heavy bottomed vessel, over medium-flame, heat about 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil.
• Add the sliced onions and stir-fry the onions till they turn golden brown and crisp.

If You Are Using Birista:

• In a heavy-bottomed vessel, over medium flame, heat 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil.
• Add 1 Cup Birista and stir-fry for a few seconds.

Rest of the Steps

• To the caramalised onions, add 1/2 tsp Paprika or Red Chilli Powder and some salt, and mix well.
• Remove about 1/2 of the fried onions and set aside.
• Now, add 1/2 tsp chilli powder and some more salt to the remaining onions and mix well.
• Next add the rinsed and drained brown lentils (Masoor) and 1 tsp cumin powder, and mix well.
• Add 3 cups water and some salt.
• Bring the mix to a boil.
• When the water starts to boil, add 1/2 cup whole bulgur and mix well.
• Over medium heat, cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes till the lentils and bulgur are both well-cooked and all the water is absorbed.
• {Optional} Add 1/2 tsp pepper powder and mix well.

Serving the Mujadara

• Divide the Mujadara into 3 or 4 portions.
• Garnish each portion with some caramalised onions that we set aside earlier, and finely chopped mint leaves, if you so wish.
• Serve warm Mujadara with cold Yogurt or Labneh.

Nutrition

Calories: 340 kcalCarbohydrates: 41 gProtein: 12 gFat: 15 gSaturated Fat: 4 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1 gMonounsaturated Fat: 5 gSodium: 721 mgPotassium: 439 mgFiber: 14 gSugar: 1 gVitamin A: 274 IUVitamin C: 2 mgCalcium: 39 mgIron: 4 mg

Keyword Brown Lentils and Bulgur Pilaf, Brown Lentils and Rice Pilaf, Green Lentils and Bulgur Pilaf, Middle Eastern Pilaf, Mujadara, Pilaf

Tried this recipe?Do let me know how you liked it @aahaaram or tag #aahaaram!