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Home » side dish » Brown Rice Mujaddara

Brown Rice Mujaddara

Published: Nov 5, 2017 · Modified: Apr 15, 2020 by Louisa Clements · This post may contain affiliate links

This post may contain affiliate links

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1 hour 10 minutes 10 Comments

A take on the popular Middle Eastern dish mujaddara, this recipe is made with brown rice, lentils and onions and served with yogurt. 

A take on the Middle Eastern dish mujaddara with brown rice, lentils and onions. | livinglou.com

There is a restaurant in Toronto called Tabülè, it’s a Middle Eastern restaurant and it quickly became my go-to spot for meeting friends after work for a quick bite, or grabbing dinner with friends who are visiting from out of town. There are a few reasons; not only is the food delicious, but if you have anyone in your life who is gluten free/vegetarian/vegan, they will most likely be able to find something to eat here.

I’ve spent countless hours laughing and gossiping around the tables or seated at the bar on extra busy nights. Always with a glass of wine in hand, because nothing makes me happier than food, wine and my favourite people. You know those dinners that go on for hours but feel like 20 minutes? Those.

Dinner at Tabule in Toronto

They make a few incredible dishes, but the one that I always order is the mujaddara.

What is mujaddara?

It’s a dish of lentils, rice and fried onions, a staple dish in Middle Eastern cuisine. And when I say a staple, when I was reading about the history of this dish I learned that the first mujaddara recipe was printed in 1226. Talk about a recipe seeped with history.

From my research I found that there mujaddara recipes vary by region. They can be made with bulgur or basmati rice, but it is always a grain with lentils and onions. Traditionally, it’s not made with brown rice, but I opted to use brown rice in this recipe because it’s what I always have in my pantry and it’s the variety of rice that I enjoy eating. Scented with cumin and cinnamon, the ingredients are simple but pack a punch of flavour.

A take on the Middle Eastern dish mujaddara with brown rice, lentils and onions. | livinglou.com

It starts by sauteeing onions, until they are a light golden colour and really begin softening. Then the garlic and spices are added and the complexity of flavour begins to build. It’s a dish that doesn’t require anything fancy, but these basic ingredients elevate brown rice and lentils into something special.

One you add the brown rice and lentils, this dish is cooked the same way you would cook brown rice, in simmering broth or water for about 45 minutes.

This has quickly become one of my favourite dishes, and also something I’ll eat on its own with yogurt or labneh.

Brown rice mujaddara in bowls with parsley on top

Brown Rice Mujaddara

Author: Louisa Clements
5 from 5 votes
A take on the popular Middle Eastern dish mujaddara, this recipe is made with brown rice, lentils and onions and served with yogurt. 
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Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
servings icon
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup brown rice
  • 1 cup dried green lentils, rinsed
  • ½ tsp salt

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in a medium pot over medium-low heat, saute onion for 8-10 minutes. Add garlic, cumin and cinnamon. Cook another minute.
  • Add brown rice and lentils, cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add salt and 3 ¼ cups water.
  • Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 40-45 minutes.
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment + rating and let me know what you think!
Filed Under: gluten free, side dish, vegan
Nutrition Facts
Brown Rice Mujaddara
Amount Per Serving
Calories 272 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 198mg9%
Potassium 404mg12%
Carbohydrates 44g15%
Fiber 11g46%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 12IU0%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is an estimate and is provided for informational purposes only. If you have any specific dietary concerns, please consult with your healthcare practitioner.

Let me know if you give this brown rice mujadarra a try let me know in the comments below.

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Comments

  1. Angel Prieto

    August 06, 2022 at 4:39 pm

    If i want to use a broth instead of all water, could I? What would be the ratio? Looking forward to trying it.
    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      August 07, 2022 at 7:06 pm

      Hi Angel, you could definitely use broth instead of water in the same quantity. You may just want to omit the salt if the broth you are using has salted added to it already. Happy cooking! Let me know how it goes.
      Reply
  2. Piyush Uniyal

    January 10, 2021 at 12:57 am

    This is really a great dish for rice lovers, I like these kind of rice dishes by sprinkling freshly crushed black pepper
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      January 25, 2021 at 2:06 pm

      So glad you enjoyed it, Pyush! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Happy cooking! :)
      Reply
  3. Blythe

    June 23, 2020 at 10:01 pm

    This is delicious! Warm, comforting, and healthy! Win-win.
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
  4. Walter

    June 19, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    So it's the touch of cinnamon that does it Lou ... 4 to 1, cumin to cinnamon ... And the cinnamon will not overpower then, and still deliver its health benefits ... ? ? ?

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      July 15, 2020 at 3:02 pm

      So glad you enjoy this, Walter! Thank you for letting me know and sharing your tips :)
      Reply
  5. Kirk Garrison

    December 06, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    I've cooked this several times, Yummers! Normally when I cook rice its always sticky but this turns out perfect.
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Lou

      December 12, 2017 at 10:20 pm

      Hi Kirk, I'm so glad you love this recipe! Thanks for letting me know. :)
      Reply

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Hi, I'm Louisa Clements & welcome to Living Lou. I've been creating simple, fresh & flavorful recipes for the modern kitchen for 12 years.
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