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.
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.
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 ⅓ 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 tablespoon 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.
This Mujadara is super easy to make with simple ingredients that you might already have on hand. It is full of flavor, packed with the right texture and naturally vegan.
Ingredients
3 cups cooked rice
5 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
⅓ cup olive oil + 2 Tbs, divided
2 cups cooked lentils
3 cups onions, sliced
salt, pepper to taste
Optional:
½ cup parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
Heat a skillet with ⅓ 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, season with salt and pepper.
At the same time, heat another casserole or skillet with 2 Tbs 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 the onions and optional parsley, if you like.
This lentil dish was delicious! I had never cooked lentils before but the instructions were easy to follow and the dish came out great. Mujadara was outside of our normal meal menus but is one that we will be having again soon. Thanks for helping us try something different.
Thanks for your great feedback, Cat! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review. Your experience is so helpful for other readers and me. Thanks a lot.
Thanks for your amazing feedback, Lisa! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review on my blog? Your experience is so helpful for other readers and me. Thanks so much.
I love Mujadara and after living on it for several weeks in the Middle East, using a pre mixed bag, all dry, I made my own back home.
It works well with quinoa.
Also, I have sometimes added ground meat as a whole meal, or thrown in more vegetables.....even chopped dates. I love to experiment with dressing it up
Thanks for your wonderful feedback and making it, Edjna! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review. Your experience is so helpful for other readers and me. Thanks.
Hi Simone! I convert the recipe for you into metric measurements and you will need: 300 g uncooked rice, which is 600 g cooked, 80 g + 25 g olive oil, 150g cooked lentils and finally 400 g onions. Hope that helps and let me know what you think.
This lentil dish was delicious! I had never cooked lentils before but the instructions were easy to follow and the dish came out great. Mujadara was outside of our normal meal menus but is one that we will be having again soon. Thanks for helping us try something different.
Thanks for making it and your feedback, Michele! I hope you'll find lots of more recipes to try.
A wonderful dish. Easy and flavorful.
Thanks for your great feedback, Cat! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review. Your experience is so helpful for other readers and me. Thanks a lot.
Excellent recipe with Hummus idea will try. Practical, nutritious and just right for the Cost of Living Crisis Vegan too.
Let me know what you think, Yasemin!
This is amazing. I love this dish!
Thanks for your amazing feedback, Lisa! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review on my blog? Your experience is so helpful for other readers and me. Thanks so much.
Hi can this be served cold or is it
best hot
Hi Beverley! It is truly delicious cold and hot. Just matter of taste and preferences. Hope that helps and let me know what you think.
This looks great but I’m not a big fan of cumin, can you recommend a different spice please 🙏
Hi Debbie! Add more garlic and a small pinch chili flakes. Let me know what you think.
My son made this for our family, he’s not vegetarian but found it tasted delicious! He will make it for his veggie girlfriend - it’s so tasty!
Thanks for your great feedback, Lisa! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review. So helpful for other readers. Thanks so much.
Love mujadara! I even throw on raisins. It is a quick side dish or a meal with a salad. True comfort food.
Sounds delicious, Barbara! I'll have to try next time.
I often cook my brown rice and lentils together for 25 minutes
Always comes in handy, right?
this is a staple in our house as it is a traditional Syrian dish! So good with hummus but try it with sour cream too - so good!!!
Enjoy, Michelle!
We prepared it, with a small twist, bulgur instead of rice (as that is what we had as leftovers), and it turned out great!
Thanks for the feedback, Patricia! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review. So helpful for other readers and me. Thank you.
I love Mujadara and after living on it for several weeks in the Middle East, using a pre mixed bag, all dry, I made my own back home.
It works well with quinoa.
Also, I have sometimes added ground meat as a whole meal, or thrown in more vegetables.....even chopped dates. I love to experiment with dressing it up
Love that you share your preparation, Nancy! Thanks and enjoy.
This is a beautifully flavoured recipe and so easy to make! I'll be making this again.
Thanks for the feedback and making it, Judy! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review. So helpful for other readers and me. Thanks.
Amazing taste!!! Have been making every week for dinner and leftovers taking to work!!! Marvellous......
Thanks for your wonderful feedback and making it, Edjna! Don't forget leaving a star rating with your review. Your experience is so helpful for other readers and me. Thanks.
Looks great just wish also put metric measurements too
Hi Simone! I convert the recipe for you into metric measurements and you will need: 300 g uncooked rice, which is 600 g cooked, 80 g + 25 g olive oil, 150g cooked lentils and finally 400 g onions. Hope that helps and let me know what you think.