Mujadara

Mujadara is a timeless dish made from simple, wholesome ingredients like lentils, rice, and caramelized onions. Packed with earthy, savory, and slightly sweet flavors, it’s as satisfying as it is easy to prepare. Perfect on its own or paired with yogurt and fresh salad, this classic recipe brings warmth and tradition to your table.

What is Mujadara?

Mujadara is a traditional Middle Eastern dish made with lentils, rice (or sometimes bulgur), and caramelized onions.

It’s a simple, hearty, and flavorful vegetarian meal, often seasoned with spices like cumin, coriander, or cinnamon.

The combination of lentils and rice makes it a great source of plant-based protein, and the sweetness of the caramelized onions balances the earthy flavor of the lentils.

Why you should try this Lentils and Rice Mujadara

This recipe will really quickly become a keeper in your kitchen. It is perfect for leftover rice recipes, just like my Spanish Rice and Beans, Cuban Rice and Beans, or the Cajun Sweet Potato Rice Bowl.

So whenever you have leftover rice, save time and make this Mujadara with it.

Of course, cooking rice fresh for this Mujadara is just as amazing. What you will get is a standout dish for the whole family that is

• easy to make with simple ingredients
• delicious
• flavorful
• budget friendly
• great for meal prep
• versatile
• filling

What ingredients go into this Mujadara recipe

The ingredients you need to make this easy Lentils and Rice recipe are common kitchen staples.

Rice serves as the dish’s starchy base, offering a soft and neutral texture that balances the earthiness of the lentils. Typically, white or long-grain rice is used for its ability to absorb the flavors of the spices and olive oil, ensuring every bite is flavorful.

The star of the dish, lentils, provides a rich, earthy flavor and a healthy dose of plant-based protein. Brown or green lentils are most commonly used, as they hold their shape during cooking and pair well with the soft texture of the rice. Together, the rice and lentils create a hearty, satisfying foundation that’s both nutritious and filling.

Flavor comes alive with the addition of caramelized onions, olive oil, and warm spices like cumin. The onions are deeply browned to bring sweetness and are used generously both inside the dish and as a garnish. Olive oil not only helps cook the onions to perfection but also adds richness and a Mediterranean touch. Garlic and cumin lend their bold, savory aromas, enhancing the dish’s complexity and ensuring it’s packed with flavor in every bite.

Optional you can add finely chopped garlic.

How to make Mujadara

Before we start, keep in mind that the recipe calls for the rice and lentils being already cooked to save time.

If you need to do precook these, use 1 cup uncooked rice and 2 cups water, and the same amounts for the lentils.

Also you can cook both in the same pot you need to double the water amount.

Please make sure to start with the rice or lentils first, which will depend what takes longer. Any rice or lentils will work.

Heat a skillet with 1/3 cup olive oil, reserve the remaining 2 tbs for later. Make sure the oil is hot, then add the onions and fry them for 15 minutes.

Stir until caramelized, finally season with salt and pepper.

At the same time, heat another casserole or skillet with 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add minced garlic and fry for 1 minute

Now add cumin, cooked rice and lentils to that skillet. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 4 minutes.

Mix in optional parsley, if you like.

Serving Lentils and Rice

When all is done, serve Mujadara on plates or in bowls. Adding a dollop of my 30 Seconds Best Hummus Recipe on top is delicious.

You can serve the rice and lentils separately, or just mix everything together. Both ways are delicious.

This Mujadara makes such an easy meal for dinner, lunch, and meal prep that everyone can count on.

Tips and tricks for the perfect Mujadara

As you can see, I keep it really simple in this recipe and use rice and lentils that are already cooked to save time. You can prepare a big batch ahead of time and have everything on hand and prepared. Pro tip: To make it even easier, use canned lentils.

Less oil: you can skip the 2 tbs of olive oil for cooking the rice and simply reheat it on the stove or in microwave. But note that the result will be different as I find that extra oil adds so much flavor.

Other lentil recipes to try

• Lentil Pasta
• Red Lentil Soup
• Lentil Curry
• Lentil Three Bean Chili
• Patty Melt

If you give this easy Mujadara a try, tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

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