Spiced Basmati Rice With Lentils And Caramelized Onions Food

LENTIL RICE PILAF WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS (MUJADARA)

Steps:

• prep the ingredients: Add the lentils into a small saucepan and add water until the lentils are covered by at least 2 inches. Cook the lentils over medium-high heat until almost tender, about 15-18 minutes. Drain; set aside. Soak the rice in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes while you caramelize the onions.
• onions: Add the olive oil into a deep, thick-bottomed pot (with a lid), like a dutch oven. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Once it's hot, add the onions and stir them around to coat with the oil. Set a timer for 20 minutes and cook the onions for a total of 18-22 minutes, stirring often, or until the onions are a deep orange or brown color. If the onions start to brown before the 10-minute mark, lower the heat. Ideally, they should start developing color around 12-15 minutes. And from that point on, you'll need to stir the onions often so that they don't burn. Remove the onions to a plate lined with a paper towel.
• rice pilaf: Drain the soaked rice thoroughly and add it to the oil remaining in the pot (if you have less than a tablespoon, add a little more). Sauté the rice in the remaining oil for 2 minutes. Add the lentils to the pot and season with the cumin, coriander, turmeric, allspice, cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and let the water come to a rolling boil, cover, lower the heat to the lowest setting, and let cook for 15 minutes. Remove the pot from the stove. Grab a piece of paper towel large enough to cover the pot. Add the caramelized onions to the top of the rice and place the paper towel flat on the pot before placing the lid on top. Let sit for 10 minutes (your stove should be off at this point). Fluff and mix in the onions before serving.

MUJADARA (LENTILS AND RICE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS)

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, combine the garlic, bay leaves, cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt and about 20 twists of freshly ground black pepper. Add the water and bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat.
• Once boiling, stir in the rice and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat as necessary to maintain a controlled simmer, for 10 minutes.
• Stir in the lentils and let the mixture return to a simmer. Cover again, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the rice and lentils are tender, about 20 to 23 minutes.
• Meanwhile, warm the olive oil in a large (12-inch) skillet over medium-high heat. When it's warm enough that a slice of onion sizzles on contact, add the remaining onions. Stir to combine.
• Stir only every 3 minutes or so at first, then more often once the onions at the edges of the pan start browning. If the onions are browning before they have softened, dial down the heat to give them more time. Cook until the onions are deeply caramelized and starting to crisp at the edges, about 20 to 30 minutes. In the meantime, line a large plate or cutting board with a couple paper towels.
• Using a slotted spoon or fish spatula, transfer the onions to the lined plate and spread them evenly across. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt over the onions. They'll crisp up as they cool.
• When the lentils and rice are done cooking, drain off any excess water (if there is any) and return the mixture to the pot, off the heat. Lay a kitchen towel across the top of the pot to absorb steam, then cover the pot and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Remove the lid, discard the bay leaves, and smash the garlic cloves against the side of the pan with a fork. Add about 3/4ths of the green onions and cilantro, reserving the rest for garnish. Gently stir and fluff the rice with a fork. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if necessary.
• Transfer the rice and lentil mixture to a large serving platter or bowl. Top with the caramelized onions and the remaining green onions and cilantro. Serve hot, warm or at room temperature, with yogurt and spicy sauce (optional) on the side.

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 MUJADDARA BURRITOS

Steps:

• Toss the onions with 2 tsp salt in a bowl and microwave for 5 minutes. Rinse, drain, and pat dry with paper towels. Cook the onions and the oil in a Dutch oven over high heat, stirring often, until golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Drain the onions in a colander set in a large bowl, reserving 3 tbsp of the leftover oil. Transfer the onions to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Do not wash the pot.
• Meanwhile, bring the lentils, 4 cups water, and 1 tsp salt to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, until lentils are tender, 15-17 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• While the onions and lentils cook, place the rice in a medium bowl and cover with hot tap water by 2 inches. Let stand for 15 minutes. Carefully pour off as much water as possible, leaving the rice in the bowl. Add cold water to the rice and pour it off again. Repeat 4-5 times. Drain rice in a fine-mesh strainer.
• Heat 3 tbsp of the reserved oil, garlic, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, ¼ tsp black pepper, and cayenne pepper in the Dutch oven over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in 2¼ cups water, sugar, and 1 tsp salt. Bring to a boil. Stir in the lentils and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed, about 12 minutes.
• Remove the pot from the heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in the cilantro and the onions.
• Heat the tortillas according to package directions. Mound the lentil and rice mixture and the zucchini baba ghanoush across the center of the tortillas, close to the bottom edge. Fold the sides of the tortilla over the filling, then fold up the bottom of the tortilla. Continue to roll tightly into a burrito. Serve warm.

ONION LENTILS AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in skillet, saute the onions with 1 tsp cumin until lightly browned (can add some garlic too, if desired).
• Remove 1/3 of the onions and set aside.
• Continue cooking the rest of the onions until dark brown and black in places.
• In the meantime, bring water to a boil in a saucepan, add the lentils, reduce heat, and cover, simmering for 15 minutes.
• To the lentils, add the 1/3 lightly browned onions, rice, salt, and remaining 1 tsp cumin.
• Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until rice is tender.
• Remove from heat and stir in the well-browned onions.
• Cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes.
• Serve!
• Especially good with chopped lettuce, tomatoes, and a dollop of yogurt or sour cream on top.
• Also good with cooked spinach.

LENTILS AND RICE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Peel and slice onions vertically.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
• Add onion; cover and cook 15 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally.
• Uncover and increase heat to medium; cook 25 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and keep onions warm.
• While onion cooks, bring water to a boil in a large saucepan.
• Add lentils; return to a boil and reduce heat to keep at a low boil and cook 20 minutes.
• Stir in 1/2 cup caramelized onion, rice, salt, and pepper. Cover, and cook over medium-low heat for 25 minutes, until lentils and rice are tender.
• Spoon lentils and rice into a shallow dish; top with remaining onion.
• Drizzle remaining oil over lentils. Serve with yogurt, if desired.

MUJADARA

Steps:

• Place the oil and onions into a medium saucepan. Toss a few times to coat the onions and place the pot over medium low heat.
• Allow the onions to cook for 45 to 60 minutes, until they're caramelized and slightly browned.
• While the onions cook, place the lentils in medium saucepan. Cover them with water and place the pot over high heat.
• Bring the water to a boil, lower the heat and allow it to simmer for until the lentils are tender (about 20 minutes for brown lentils, 40 for green).
• Remove the pot from heat and drain the lentils into a colander. Set them aside.
• When the onions have finished caramelizing, remove half of them from the pot and transfer them to a plate.
• Raise the heat beneath the onions to medium, add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper, and cook 1 minute more, until very fragrant.
• Stir in the broth and rice.
• Bring the liquid to a boil, lower the heat and cover. Allow the mixture to simmer until the rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed, 15-20 minutes.
• Remove the pot from heat and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
• Stir the lentils, lemon juice and cilantro into the pot with the rice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also add extra lemon juice if you'd like.
• Divide the mujadara onto plates and top with the reserved caramelized onions.

SWEET SPICED BROWN RICE AND GINGERED LENTILS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large (4-quart) saucepan over medium heat until hot.
• Add rice and chopped onion; cook and stir until onion softens, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in 4 cloves of the garlic, the sweet spice blend and 1 teaspoon salt; cook and stir, 30 seconds.
• Stir in 3 cups water.
• Heat to a boil; reduce heat to very low.
• Cover the pan with a piece of parchment paper and then the lid.
• Cook, stirring once or twice, until rice is tender and water is absorbed, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put lentils, cinnamon stick, ginger and remaining 2 cloves of the garlic in a medium saucepan.
• Add 3 cups water and remaining ½ teaspoon salt.
• Heat to a boil over medium heat.
• Reduce heat to low.
• Simmer, covered, until lentils are tender, but not falling apart, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Discard cinnamon stick; drain lentils in a colander.
• Stir drained lentils into cooked rice.
• Cook over low to heat everything through, about 5 minutes. (If working in advance, turn the contents of the pan out onto a large rimmed baking sheet. Refrigerate uncovered until cool. Transfer to a covered container; refrigerate up to 3 days.)
• Shortly before serving, heat a large cast-iron or heavy nonstick skillet until hot.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil; add the rice and lentil mixture.
• Cook, stirring, to heat through and crisp up some of the rice a bit, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the caramelized onions to heat through.
• Taste and add salt if needed.
• Sprinkle with cilantro leaves and fried onions.
• Serve hot.
• Mix 2 tablespoons ground cumin, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander, and 3/4 teaspoon each ground allspice, cloves, ginger and nutmeg in a small bowl.
• Keeps covered up to several weeks.
• (Makes: about 1/3 cup)
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut onions in half through the stem end. Cut each half into ¼ inch thick wedges.
• Toss in a bowl with the oil until onions are well-coated.
• Transfer to a heavy, metal 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
• Bake, stirring every 20 minutes, until onions soften and start to turn golden, about 1 ½ hours.
• Stir in salt; continue baking (stirring at the 20 minute mark) until beautifully browned and starting to crisp (but are not at all burnt), about 30 minutes.
• Let cool in the pan; transfer to a covered container.
• Refrigerate up to 1 week.
• Alternatively, heat a large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed nonstick skillet over medium heat until a drop of water evaporates on contact.
• Add the oiled onions to the pan - don't worry if the pan is very full, the onions will cook down.
• Reduce heat to very low.
• Cook, stirring every 20 minutes or so, about 1 ½ hours.
• Season with the salt; continue cooking until onions are beautifully browned and starting to crisp (but are not at all burnt), about 30 minutes.

MUJADDARA RECIPE: SPICED LENTILS, RICE AND FRIED ONIONS

Steps:

• Place the lentils in a medium saucepan along with enough water to cover by two inches. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until the lentils have softened slightly but still have some bite to them. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large pot set over medium-high heat to reach a consistent deep-fry temperature (375 degrees). Peel and slice the onions into thin rings. Place the onions in a large bowl and break the rings up with your hands (you should have about six cups). Toss the onions with the flour to evenly coat.
• In a 4 quart or larger pot, heat the two teaspoons of olive oil along with the cumin seeds over medium heat for 2 minutes to toast. Stir in the rice, remaining two tablespoons of oil, the allspice, cinnamon, sugar, coriander, and turmeric. Add 1 ¾ cups of water along with the boiled lentils. Allow the mixture to come to a light boil over medium heat, then immediately cover the pot and simmer on the lowest heat setting for 15 minutes.
• While the mejadra is cooking, work in batches to fry the onions. Carefully lower one quarter of the onion rings into the hot oil, a small handful at a time, and fry for 3 to 4 minutes, until deeply brown and crispy. Strain from the oil with a metal utensil and place on a paper towel-lined sheet to drain. Allow the oil to return to deep fry temperature and repeat with remaining onions until all have been fried.
• Once the mejadra has simmered for 15 minutes, turn off the heat, quickly wrap the pot lid in a towel and place securely over the mouth of the pot. Allow to steam in the pot for 15 to 20 minutes, until rice and lentils are cooked through.
• Stir half of the fried onions into the mejadra mixture. Transfer to a serving plate and top with remaining fried onions. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SPICED BASMATI RICE

Steps:

• Wash rice in several changes of tap water
• Pour 2 pints of water over rice and soak for half an hour. Drain in a sieve for 20 mins. This will remove the excess starch & help achieve fluffy rice
• Add oil to a large saucepan and heat gently. Add onion & fry until soft and lightly brown.
• Add rice, garlic, spices and seasoning & stir for 3 to 4 mins so all grains are coated with oil and spices
• Pour in chicken stock and bring to boil. Turn to a low heat and cook for 10-15 mins until rice is tender & most/all water has been absorbed.

SPICED BASMATI RICE WITH LENTILS AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in 10-inch-diameter oven-proof nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and stir 1 minute. Cover and cook until onions are tender, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes. Uncover and sauté until onions are deep golden, about 5 minutes longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Spread onions in even layer in same skillet; set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook lentils in pot of boiling water until almost tender but still firm to bite, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Combine 2 1/2 cups water, cardamom, allspice, bay leaf and salt in heavy medium saucepan; bring to boil. Add rice and lentils; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer until rice is tender and water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Discard cardamom, allspice and bay leaf.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Spoon rice mixture atop onions in skillet, pressing with back of spoon to compact rice; smooth top. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cool. Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Cover skillet tightly with double layer of foil. Bake rice mixture until heated through, about 35 minutes. Remove foil; let stand 5 minutes. Place plate over skillet; invert skillet, releasing rice and onions onto plate and scraping any onions remaining in skillet onto rice. Spoon rice and onions onto plates and serve.

LENTILS AND RICE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large, deep baking pan, toss the onion rings with the olive oil to coat. Be sure to separate the rings and spread them out in the pan. Roast in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often. The idea is to get most of the onion rings deep brown, crisp, and even burned on the edges. The deeper they roast, the sweeter they will taste. When done, remove from the oven and set aside.
• Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add the rice, cinnamon stick, ground cloves, and allspice. Bring back to a boil, then lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Uncover and add the lentils, cumin, and allspice; stir gently only a few times (too much stirring can break the rice grains); cover, bring to boil again, lower the heat to low, and cook for an additional 45 minutes, until the liquid is completely absorbed. Remove from the heat and set aside the covered pot for 10 minutes.
• Use a fork to gently fluff the lentils and rice. Remove the cinnamon stick. Gently fold the caramelized onions into the lentils and rice, making sure to drizzle on any remaining olive oil from the roasting pan. Stir thoroughly. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Spiced Pita Crisps, serves 4, time: 15 minutes.
• white or whole wheat pitas
• olive oil fro brushing
• teaspoon or more per pita of the following spices; pick just one and stick with it or be like a crazy person and experiment with these mixtures:
• Garam Masala
• Garlic powder, cumin, cayenne, and salt or
• Lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Slice open a pita along the edges, and carefully open and separate each half. Brush with olive oil, then sprinkle with your seasoning(s) of choice. Spread the pitas on cookie sheets (a little overlapping is okay) and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Watch and be careful not to burn.
• Cool on the cookie sheets and store in plastic bags.