Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Easy Mujadara Recipe: A comforting, hearty, and budget-friendly vegan dinner ready in 30 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly cooked lentils and fluffy rice every time. The golden, caramelized onions make this dish irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Classic Columbia 1905 Salad with Ham and Swiss Cheese and Easy Thai Drunken Noodles Recipe with Fresh Basil and Spice.
Why This Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Budget-friendly and feeds a crowd
- One-pot easy cleanup
- Protein-packed and satisfying
- Better than takeout taste
What You'll Need for Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 cup green lentils
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: Fried onions, for garnish
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
📝 Ingredient Notes
- green lentils: Rinse and pick over lentils before cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks lentils perfectly in half the time. → See on Amazon
- Good quality olive oil — Enhances the flavor of caramelized onions. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
- Step 1: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until caramelized, about 15 minutes.
- Step 2: Add lentils, rice, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Add 3 cups of water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until lentils are tender and rice is cooked.
- Step 4: Fluff with a fork, taste, and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fried onions and fresh parsley.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the lentils. They should be tender but still hold their shape. If they're too soft, the dish will be mushy.
- Time-saving tip: You can caramelize the onions ahead of time and refrigerate them for up to 3 days.
- Nutrition tip: To make this dish even healthier, use low-sodium vegetable broth instead of water.
Storing & Reheating Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: You can cook the lentils and rice ahead of time and reheat before serving.
Freezing Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: To make this dish even more flavorful, add a pinch of saffron to the cooking water.
- Best substitution: You can substitute brown rice for basmati rice for a nuttier flavor.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the lentils and rice ahead of time and reheat before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your lentils are still hard after 30 minutes, add more water and continue cooking until tender.
Want to level up this recipe?
Good quality non-stick pot — Ensures even cooking and prevents lentils from sticking. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup green lentils
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
Seasonings
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Toppings
- Fried onions, for garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and cook until caramelized, about 15 minutes.
- Step 2: Add lentils, rice, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir to combine.
- Step 3: Add 3 cups of water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until lentils are tender and rice is cooked.
- Step 4: Fluff with a fork, taste, and adjust seasoning. Garnish with fried onions and fresh parsley.
Notes
- Chef tip: To make this dish even more flavorful, add a pinch of saffron to the cooking water.
- Best substitution: You can substitute brown rice for basmati rice for a nuttier flavor.
- Make-ahead: You can cook the lentils and rice ahead of time and reheat before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your lentils are still hard after 30 minutes, add more water and continue cooking until tender.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: You can cook the lentils and rice ahead of time and reheat before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 75g
- Fiber: 15g
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sat. Fat: 1.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can cook the lentils and rice ahead of time and reheat before serving. However, the fried onions are best added fresh.
You likely overcooked the lentils. To prevent this, keep an eye on them and test for doneness after 25 minutes.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
While you can cook the lentils and rice in the air fryer, it's not recommended for this dish as it's best cooked on the stovetop with caramelized onions.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or in the microwave for 2-3 minutes. Add a little water if needed to prevent drying out.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
