This delicious Middle Eastern mix of lentils and rice, simmered with fragrant spices and mixed with caramelized onions, is also nutritious. Varying spellings include mujaddara, mujadarah, mjadra, majadra, mjaddara, mejadra, mudardara, mjaddara, mjaddaret, or megadarra. No matter how you spell it, mejadra is a tasty and hearty vegan dish. This can be made without oil in a non-stick skillet. The no-oil version has a slightly different texture, but it is delicious.
| PREP: 30 min. COOK: 30 min MEDIUM SAUCEPAN, MIXING BOWL, SERVING BOWL SERVES: 4 |
| INGREDIENTS |
| OLIVE OIL, 2 Tbsp ONIONS, 3 medium, thinly sliced LENTILS, 1/2 c green or brown, dried CUMIN, 1/4 tsp RICE, 1/2 c TURMERIC, 1/2 tsp, ground ALLSPICE, 1/2 tsp, ground CINNAMON, 1/2 tsp, ground SUGAR, 1 tsp SALT, to taste BLACK PEPPER, to taste WATER, 1 c |
| INSTRUCTIONS |
| 1. Wash the LENTILS, cover with water, bring to a boil, lower heat and cook for 12-15 minutes until tender but not mushy; set aside |
| 2. Caramelize the sliced ONION in the OLIVE OIL until transparent and golden brown; drain on a paper towel and sprinkle with salt |
| 3. Wash the RICE thoroughly; toast it lightly in the oil from the onions until it is slightly brown |
| 4. Stir in the CUMIN, ALLSPICE, CINNAMON, SUGAR, and BLACK PEPPER |
| 5. Add 1 cup of WATER and stir lightly; bring the rice mixture to a boil, add SALT, then lower the heat, cover the pan, leaving air space so it doesn’t boil over. |
| 6. When the RICE mixture has cooked for 10 minutes, stir in the LENTILS, taste to adjust salt, replace the lid, and continue cooking for 5 more minutes |
| 7. Remove from heat, cover with a clean dish towel, and replace the lid tightly; let set for 10 minutes |
| 8. Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl, and add half the ONIONS; mix lightly |
| 9. Move to serving bowl and top with the remaining ONIONS |
When I switched to plant-based living after a lifetime of meals planned around a main course of meat, I immediately felt positive effects and found it surprisingly easy, even fun, to change my habits and explore new ways of enjoying food. Fruit and Stuff is a collection of some of the many things I have learned since I started the journey.