What's for Dinner? Lentils and Rice

What's for Dinner?

Tonight, it's an easy Middle East dish of lentils and rice.

3 T. oil
1 large onion, minced
2 t. salt
1 c. lentils
1 c. rice
3 1/2 c. water
plus spices

Chop up the onion and saute it in the oil along with the salt. Once the onion is soft, toss in the water and lentils and stir. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 15 minutes. Add in the rice, stir, and cover again. Let that simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let sit for at least 5 more minutes to let any remaining liquid get absorbed.

It's pretty good without the spices, but I like it best with a more robust taste. Use whatever you like, but I commonly use curry powder, garlic powder, cayenne powder, basil, oregano, and bay leaf to the onion and stirred it around for a few minutes before adding the water and continuing on.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• cooking
• recipe
• lentils
• rice
• mujadarra
• mujaddara

[8ballinthepocket]

what music is that?

artist?

i'll have to try this recipe soon

thanks

[twohonev]

The music I use is always listed at the end of the video.

In this case, it is the song "Eli Eli" by the late Ofra Haza on her "Yemenite Love" album.

[Metsada007]

I'm definitely going to try this soon. But I prefer brown rice, and since brown rice takes longer to cook, I think after adding the rice, I will have to simmer it longer than 20 minutes (as suggested in this video).

[twohonev]

Yeah, using brown rice would take longer to cook. You can try adding it with the lentils for a longer cooking time. When I cook wild and white rice, I cook them separately and combine them later in the dish. I find that to be easier to manage. But if you have a good understanding of how long to cook your brown rice and the water it needs, you should be able to insert it into the right place in the recipe. This one is pretty forgiving.

[Metsada007]

What's better to use for this dish, green or brown lentils? I've read that brown lentils get mushy quickly.

[twohonev]

Most of the time I have used brown lentils. Some will mush up, but enough remain whole to give it a good texture. I once used red lentils, but they mushed up completely and became a coating on the rice. If you are not sure how different lentils will cook, I suggest visiting an Indian grocery and asking about the different types of lentils they stock.

[cayseas]

I love your presentation. You made it very easy to follow and I loved your putting in the end about the animals not being harmed. Nice touch of humor.

[candygunner77]

That looks amazing, I have to try it!!! thanks for the recipe

[idontplayamusic]

Thanks I was looking for a video of how to cook these 2 ingredients together. So hungry and thats all we have to eat here lol

[yvell]

That song sounds soo beautiful and soothing.

[Metsada007]

I added the brown rice with the lentils as you said. It was good. I used too much water though.

[thefoole]

You can definitely use brown rice, but you're right--it will take about double the time to cook, depending on the rice you use and your elevation above sea level. You could either cook it separately and add it to the lentils, or let the rice cook until it's about 20 minutes from being done, then add the lentils, stir and continue cooking.

Let's see what twohonev says.