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Mujadara Baked Rice and Lentils

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Mujadara Baked Rice and Lentils is straight up comfort food. Made richer with full-flavored spices and brought to your dinner table in a pretty casserole.

Classic Mujadara baked rice, lentils, onion and spices mounded in a cobalt blue bowl and tilted forward.

If you're looking for an inexpensive and easy recipe then this is the one. Mujadara is a classic recipe and is a staple in the Middle East. People have been making it for over 500 years.

Because this dish consists of a legume and grain it is a complete protein and also very high in protein per cup. It's just one of those perfect dishes.

Mujadara is not normally baked but it is so easy this way and it comes out perfect every time. About all you have to do is combine everything in a casserole and then it just takes care of itself in the oven.

Baked brown rice seems to come out so much more substantial and satisfying. It certainly has more nutrition than white rice.

Classic Mujadara baked rice, lentils, onion and spices mounded in a cobalt blue bowl. Up close photo only ⅔rd's of the bowl showing and is sitting in front of a blue casserole.

I did pre-saute the onion before I added it to the mixture because I just like the extra sweetness that comes out of the onion that way.

Mujadara as a Side Dish

You can serve it as a main dish with other smaller sides such as Pure Delicious Cauliflower. It is actually fun to have only side dishes for dinner.

I'm not sure is mujadara is considered a side dish in Palestine but it sure is delicious. You could add a loaf of crusty bread too and definitely a salad. So good!

Now you have it. Lentils and rice made richer with full-flavored spices and brought to your dinner table in a pretty casserole.

Classic Mujadara baked rice, lentils, onion and spices mounded in a cobalt blue bowl and sprinkled with parsley.

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Classic rice, lentils, onion and spices mounded in a cobalt blue bowl and sprinkled with parsley.

Mujadara Baked Rice and Lentils Casserole

Ginny McMeans
Mujadara Baked Rice and Lentils is straight up comfort food.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Casserole
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 321 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • ½ cup onion, diced
  • 3 cups vegetable broth - use low sodium to watch for your sodium intake
  • 1 cup dried brown lentils
  • ⅔ cup brown rice
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • In a skillet heat oil to medium high and then turn it down to medium and saute the onion until it is translucent - about 10 minutes.
  • Heat 3 cups of vegetable broth to a boil.
  • Meanwhile, to an 8" x 10" casserole add rice, lentils, all the spices and sauted onion. It could be a 9" x 9" or close to its size also.
  • Be careful and pour the broth over everything in the casserole dish.
  • Stir until all is evenly dispersed. The rice and lentils will settle on the bottom.
  • Cover with a fitted lid or cover tightly with foil. Leaving enough foil to go over the edges, liberally.
  • Bake at 325 degrees for 60 minutes.
  • Check and see if the liquid has absorbed and the rice is tender.  If not add another 10 minutes.
  • It will still be very moist.
  • Serve and sprinkle with fresh parsley - if you like.

Notes

A serving is about 1 ¼ cup each.
 
IF FREEZING:
Please follow any of the directions defined in my article How to Prepare Food for the Freezer.
TO PREPARE AFTER FREEZING:
If you have frozen leftover mujadara in smaller rigid containers then take out the containers and put in the fridge the day before serving. Heat in a microwave on high, stirring about every 2 minutes until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1CupCalories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 18gFat: 2gSodium: 58mgPotassium: 724mgFiber: 16gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 20IUVitamin C: 3.6mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 4.6mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Ginny McMeans

    Wonderful Angela! I am so very glad and thanks so much for letting me know.

  2. Veena Azmanov

    5 stars
    I love how easy this is - I love lentils and rice combination. The flavors sound so incredible. Saving this for later.

  3. Monica | Nourish & Fete

    5 stars
    This looks very cozy and comforting, but healthy all at the same time - a wonderful combination!

  4. Elaine @ Dishes Delish

    5 stars
    Ginny, your rice dish looks so yummy! I love the combination of rice with lentils!! Yum!! And it looks super delicious, not to mention comforting!!

  5. Molly Kumar

    5 stars
    That sounds like a great recipe and would be perfect for a weeknight dinner. We eat lentils almost everyday, so this is going to be a nice new addition.

  6. Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish

    I'm all for Mujadara! This is an interesting version of the Lebanese classic.

  7. Glenda

    Has anyone tried this in the Instant Pot?

  8. Mary

    Apologies if I'm just missing it, but what size casserole dish do you use for this please? Hoping to make it for work lunches for the week! Thanks!

  9. Ginny McMeans

    No, my fault completely Mary, The casserole dish I used os 8" x 10" or close to it. So a 9" x 9" would be good too. The actual size is very forgiving. Thanks for the heads up and I added it to the recipe card.

  10. Maggie

    Sorry if this is a dumb question, but do use dry lentils or canned lentils?

  11. Ginny McMeans

    Not dumb at all Maggie. It is dried lentils.

  12. Sarah

    Are these nutrition details/serving amounts for a side dish or entree?

  13. Ginny McMeans

    A serving is about 1 1/4 cup each Sarah.