Mujadara (Lentils & Rice with Caramelized Onions)

Making One of My Favorite Recipes: Mujadara

Inspired by My Friend Slomit Antopolski

Pictured Above: Mujadara (Lentils & Rice with Caramelized Onions)

Pictured above: Shlomit Antopolski 

This week I spent time with my friend Shlomit Antopolski. She is originally from Israel and is quite a talented cook. I asked her to teach me how to make some classic Mediterranean dishes. Prior to my time with her, I was not "brave enough" to attempt most of them. I had one botched attempt at baba ghanoush, so I kind of lost my courage.  Shlomit made every recipe seem "do-able." I took notes as she explained everything, from how to select the vegetables to how to know when things were "done." I learned how to make tabouli, baba ghanoush, tahini, and mujadara. Mujadara is a Middle Eastern dish that mostly consists of lentils, rice and onions. The flavors and textures combine to make an interesting dish that is very versatile to serve and enjoy. It is great hot, warm, or at room temperature. It can be a main dish, side dish, part of a mixed platter, served in a pita, or spooned on top of a salad. The suggested garnishes (lemon juice, toasted pine nuts, cilantro, and/or chopped tomatoes) add more variety to an already satisfying dish. I am so pleased that a previously "only something I could get at a restaurant" dish has now become something I can make in about 45 minutes. Another great bonus is that I made this entire recipe (that makes 6 large servings) for about $2.50! When I order this at a restaurant it costs around $10 (for one large serving). You do the math! How is that for a great deal?
So I want to say "thank you" to my dear friend, Shlomit, once again for the time we spent together in her kitchen. She made Mediterranean cooking seem easy. I know I will need to practice and experiment, but she helped give me the confidence I needed to attempt Middle Eastern cooking. I am looking forward to learning more!
This recipe has added suggestions and modifications from recipes that I found online. If you follow our simple recipe, you can be successful at making mujadara on your first attempt--just like I was! Click here for a printable recipe: Mujadara (Lentils & Rice w/Caramelized Onions).

Indonesian Coconut Rice

Exotic Rice Dish That is Easy to Make

Indonesian Coconut Rice

(from Vegan.com)

I love everything about this dish! It is aromatic, sweet, spicy and full of textures. My husband does not like coconut, but since it isn't added until the end, I was able to pull some rice out for him and then add the coconut. He loved it too! I made this with leftover rice from a previous evening's meal. The recipe calls for 4 cups of cooked rice, but I only made a half recipe. The photo above is from the original website: Vegan.com. They surrounded the rice with stir-fried vegetables. I think anyone who loves big flavors and a variety of textures in their meal would love this. For a printable recipe, click here: Indonesian Coconut Rice Recipe. Please follow my blog for more interesting recipes!

Jamaican Cabbage Recipe

Not Your Grandmother's Cabbage...Unless She is Bob Marley's Grandmother!

I'm not sure how you feel about cooked cabbage, but it is one of my favorite vegetables. My sister, Ruth, was visiting last week and told me about a cabbage recipe that she loves from her favorite Jamaican restaurant. It is simply called "Jamaican Cabbage." We decided to take on the challenge of finding a recipe and making it. We found a few recipes online and merged them. Along with my husband, we tweaked the seasonings and came up with this recipe: Jamaican Cabbage Recipe. If you like a little bit of heat (spicy) combined with a touch of sweetness, you will love this dish. What we enjoyed about this recipe is that the flavors intensified overnight in the refrigerator. This is a great dish to make ahead. You could take this in your lunch, take it to a potluck, or serve it as a side dish for dinner. It would be great served with rice, beans, and/or in a wrap. This is the most interesting and satisfying cabbage recipe I have ever had! I hope you enjoy it! For a printable recipe, click here: Jamaican Cabbage Recipe.