Middle Eastern Rice And Lentils Food

MIDDLE EASTERN RICE AND LENTILS (MUJADARA)

Steps:

• Place your basmati rice in a small sauce pot and add the vegetable broth or water, cover with a tight fitting lid and bring to a boil, then turn down heat to slow simmer for about 12 minutes or until tender. Set aside.
• At the same time, place your washed and picked over red lentils and water in a pot uncovered, place in 1 bay leaf and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes or just until the red lentils are tender. (Do NOT salt the water as this makes the lentils tough) Drain lentils and set aside.
• In a separate pan add olive oil and onions and cook over low medium heat until caramelized, about 8-10 minutes.
• Add the cooked red lentils and caramelized onions to the cooked basmati rice and add salt and pepper to taste, cumin and roughly chopped fresh cilantro and stir to combine.
• Enjoy!

MIDDLE EASTERN RICE (MEJADRA)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add about 1/3 of the onions and cook for 5 minutes until golden and crispy. Drain on paper towels.
• Repeat with remaining onions, in two batches.
• Put the olive oil, cumin seeds and coriander in a saucepan over medium heat.
• Cook for a couple of minutes until the spices are fragrant.
• Add the rice and stir to coat with the oil and spices.
• Add the water and lentils.
• While it comes to boil, add all the other spices, salt and pepper.
• When it comes to a boil, turn it down to medium-low, cover with lid and let cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until all the liquid has mostly been absorbed.
• Remove from heat and let it rest for 10 minutes - during this time, any residual liquid will absorb.
• Fluff rice with a fork and adjust the seasoning with more salt if you wish.
• Just prior to serving, stir through most of the onions and top with remainder. Sprinkle with chopped coriander if desired. Best served warm.

MIDDLE EASTERN RICE AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Measure out the Rice Herb/Spice ingredients into a small bowl, mix well, set aside.
• In a large ceramic/enamel-lined Dutch oven, skillet or similar stock pot, add the diced onions and red bell peppers, sauté over medium-high heat until the onions and peppers begin to soften, approximately 5 to 7 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent burning. Add a tablespoon or so of water if they start to stick and/or to prevent burning.
• Add the minced garlic, tomato paste and Rice Herb/Spice mix and sauté for 1 minute, then add the rice, stirring constantly to thoroughly coat the rice with the seasoning/tomato paste mixture, about 30 seconds.
• Add the vegetable broth and water, bring to boil, stir well to combine, then immediately lower to a simmer, then place the lid on the skillet/pot and allow to cook undisturbed for 18 minutes. Then remove the lid (do not stir) and allow to cook for another 10 minutes undisturbed with the lid off. After the 10 minutes has expired, then gently pull up a few grains of rice to test for tenderness. If the rice is tender, go to Step 7 for the rice (but also see steps 5 and 6). If not and all the liquid has evaporated, add a 1 tablespoon or so of water and continue simmering until the rice is tender. Resist the urge to stir.
• In the meantime, place all the Tomato Cucumber Topping ingredients into a bowl and stir. Set aside until the rice is done.
• In the meantime, place all the Yogurt Tahini Garlic Sauce Ingredients into a bowl and stir. Set aside until the rice is done.
• When the rice is done, lay and gently spread the lentils over the top of the cooked rice (do not stir the rice), cover with a lid and remove from the heat, and allow to sit for 3 minutes. You just want the lentils heated through, then stir the lentils into the rice. Serve individual servings topped with Tomato Cucumber Topping over the rice, drizzle with the Yogurt Tahini Garlic Sauce.

LEBANESE LENTILS, RICE AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS (MUJADARA)

Steps:

• Throw the lentils into a medium saucepan. Fill with enough cold water to cover the lentils by about an inch. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then turn down to a simmer and cook until the lentils are tender but not mushy, about 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, as the lentils cook, grab a large skillet. Pop it over medium-high heat and add the oil. Allow the oil to warm for a minute, then drop in the cumin seeds and cracked peppercorns and cook, shaking the pan once in a while until the cumin seeds darken a touch, about 1 minute.
• Add the onions, sprinkle with a dash of salt and cook until they turn dark caramel brown, stirring often. This will take about 15 minutes. Splash the onions with a little water if they stick to the bottom of the pan. You'll know they're done both by their deep chestnut color and by the slight crispiness developing on some of the onions.
• Using a slotted spoon or spatula, remove about half of the onions to a paper towel-lined plate; these are for garnish later. Sprinkle in the ground cumin, cayenne and then add the cinnamon stick; saute about 1 minute.
• Add the rice and cook, stirring often (but gently so you don't break the rice!) until some rice grains start to brown. Quickly, add the cooked lentils, 3 cups of water and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt; bring to a boil. Turn the heat down to low so that the pan is at a simmer, cover and cook 30 minutes. The water should be completely evaporated and rice should be tender. (If there's still too much water in the bottom, put the lid back on and cook for another 5 minutes.)
• Turn off the heat, keep the lid on, and allow the rice to steam undisturbed for about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the pine nuts, if using, in a small skillet over medium-low heat, shaking often, about 5 minutes.
• Taste the rice for seasoning. Serve with the reserved caramelized onions, toasted pine nuts, if using, and a little squeeze of lemon juice. I also like to serve this with some dollops of Greek yogurt.

MIDDLE EASTERN RICE AND LENTILS

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan, cook onion in oil till crisp-tender, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Add broth, rice, lentils, potato, carrot, raisins, and seasonings.
• Cook until rice and lentils are almost tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the bell pepper and peas.
• Cover and cook about 5-10 minutes more, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice and lentils are tender.
• Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
• I sometimes use this rice to make stuffed peppers.
• I put rice in peppers and pour canned spaghetti sauce (I usually add about 1/8 cup water to this) over, cover and bake about 45 to 60 minutes.
• I also use leftover rice to make veggie burgers.
• Enjoy!
• For Vegetarian/Vegan do not use chicken broth.

MIDDLE EASTERN LENTILS AND PASTA

Steps:

• in a small covered saucepan, bring the lentils, water and salt to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer till tender, about 40 minutes, stir occasionally.
• when the lentils are done, drain them if all the water has not been absorbed.
• while the lentils cook, puree the tomatoes, garlic, chile, oil, vinegar and salt in a blender.
• Transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
• reduce the heat and simmer briskly, uncovered, until thick, about 20-25 minutes.
• stir occasionally, as the sauce begins to cook, and more frequently as it begins to thicken.
• while the lentils and hot sauce simmer, cook the rice. rinse the rice well in a sieve and drain.
• warm the oil in a saucepan and add the rice, water and salt.
• Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer on very low heat, till the water is absorbed and the rice is done, about 15 minutes.
• meanwhile, pour about 1/2 inch oil inot a medium cast iron or nonstick skillet. on high heat, warm the oil till it is very hot, almost smoking.
• Add about half of the onions,fry, stirring often until the onions are quite brown, about 10 minutes.
• remove and drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle the onions with 1/8 t of salt.
• repeat with the rest of the onions.
• as you begin to fry the second batch of onions, bring a pot of salted water to a boil for the macaroni. by now, the hot sauce has probably finished cooking, so you have a free burner.
• cook the pasta till al dente and then drain.
• to serve, mound the lentils, macaroni, and rice in adjoining piles on a large platter.
• sprinkle with the fried onions and top with some of the hot sauce.
• serve immediately and serve with more hot sauce.

LENTILS AND RICE WITH FRIED ONIONS (MUJADARRAH)

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onions, and cook about 10 minutes, until browned. Remove from heat, and set aside.
• Place lentils in a medium saucepan with enough lightly salted water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer about 15 minutes.
• Stir rice and enough water to cover into the saucepan with the lentils. Season with salt and pepper. Cover saucepan, and continue to simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until rice and lentils are tender.
• Mix half the onions into the lentil mixture. Top with yogurt or sour cream and remaining onions to serve.

MJADRA - LENTILS AND RICE

Steps:

• Combine water and lentils and boil for 10 minutes.
• Add rice to the boiling water, keeping the lentils in the pot, and boil for 15 minutes - until the rice starts to bubble at the top. Stir occasionally.
• Meanwhile, saute strips of onion in olive oil and add to rice and lentils.
• Stir in salt and pepper, to taste. You definitely will need the salt and pepper. You may need to experiment with the amount.
• Simmer this mixture for about another 5 minutes.
• Eat as is or serve with a salad (as described in the intro.).

MIDDLE EASTERN BARLEY, LENTIL, & RICE CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium-large saucepan (I used a 2Q pan and it was just right; I've also sauteed in water instead of oil).
• Add onion and garlic; cook& stir 2 min.
• Stir in cinnamon, sugar, and 4 c water.
• Add lentils and barley.
• Bring to boil on med heat; reduce heat to low.
• Cover and simmer gently for 20 min.
• Add rice, apricots, raisins, and mint; stir.
• Simmer, covered, 20 more min or until all the ingredients are tender and have absorbed the liquid.
• Season to taste with pepper.

MIDDLE EASTERN LENTILS AND RICE WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Paritally cook the lentils in a saucepan of salted boiling water for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat 1tbs of the oilive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove half of the shallots from the skillet and set aside.
• Add the lentils to the skillet and stir in the cumin, coriander, paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Add the rice and water, bring to a boil and cook, uncovered, until the lentils are tender and the rice is cooked, about 30 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and set aside for 10 to 15 minutes while you finish cooking the reserved shallots.
• Heat the remaining 1 tbs of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the reserved shallots and cook until browned and caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Place the rice and lentil mixture in a large serving bowl and top with the crisp shallots. Serve hot.