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Mujadara hamra in a large shallow serving platter with a serving spoon garnished with fresh mint leaves and a small bowl or radishes cut in half nearby.
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5 from 10 votes

Mujadara Hamra

Lebanese Mujadara Hamra - a nutritious and comforting Middle Eastern dish featuring lentils, bulgur wheat, caramelized onions, and cumin.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Lebanese
Diet Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 324kcal
Author Yumna Jawad

Ingredients

  • ½ cup avocado oil
  • 2 large yellow onions finely chopped
  • 1½ cups brown lentils rinsed and drained
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup coarse bulgur #3 rinsed and drained
  • 5 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons cumin

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large pot over high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring constantly, until the onions are deeply browned, 25-30 minutes.
  • Add the lentils on top of the onions, season with salt, and stir to combine everything together, about 1 minute.
  • Add the water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover with a tight-fitting lid and cook for 20 minutes.
  • Remove the lid, stir in the bulgur and then cover again with the lid and cook for another 25 minutes.
  • Remove the pot from the heat. Rest, covered, for 5 minutes longer. Fluff the mixture with a fork and stir in the cumin. Serve warm.

Notes

Storage:
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days. To reheat, add to a pot with a splash of water or broth over low heat until warmed through. You can also reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
You can freeze the mujadara hamra for up to 3 months by storing it in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and microwave until heated through.
Tips:
Caramelize the onions well. The onions are a key component of this dish, and it's important to cook them until they are deeply browned to get the rich, sweet flavor. Be patient and don't rush the process, as it can take up to 30 minutes to properly caramelize onions.
Add the bulgur at the right time. To make sure that both the bulgur and lentils are fully cooked and tender, add the bulgur to the lentil and onion mixture when the lentils are about halfway cooked.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 451mg | Potassium: 479mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 4mg