Protein-Powered Mujadarra: Easy to Prepare

 

This dish is magic! It’s hard to believe a few simple and basic ingredients can taste so fabulous together.

It requires a bit of time but relatively little effort. You’ll be chopping onions…lots of them. I promise it’ll be worth every tear you’ll shed.

 

 

Flavorful and Filling

 

I love this Protein-Powered Mujadarra! My husband does too. There are so many reasons I recommend you make this dish. First and foremost it is super satisfying and tasty.  Surprising as it might seem, with just three simple ingredients, you have the makings for a flavor packed dish.

Earthy, nutty and peppery lentils

Sweet and caramelized Onions

Aromatic cumin with elements of umami

 

Packed with Protein

 

Lentils (and the brown rice in this dish too!) are a fabulous source of protein. One serving of this dish provides 12 grams of protein.

Additionally, the dish is high in dietary fiber, packed with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants, while being very low in saturated fat. These are all the components of a disease risk minimizing diet. The diseases I’m referring to are: Type 2 Diabetes, Coronary Artery Disease, Obesity and certain forms of cancer.

 

Planet-friendly Meal

 

While beans and lentils are excellent sources of protein, dietary fiber and other nutrients they also provide tremendous environmental benefits. Why?

It takes less than half the amount of water to produce one pound of lentils than one pound of beef. You see if takes a lot of fresh water to raise cattle….growing their feed, keeping them hydrated, washing away their waste,  and cleaning slaughterhouse equipment.

In addition to intensive fresh water usage, the livestock sector is responsible for:

emitting more greenhouse gases than the entire transportation sector. These gases are responsible for global warming and climate change.

Land degradation

Dead Zones

Deforestation which in turns leads to  greenhouse gas emissions, destructions of habitats, erosion of biodiversity and loss of species

For all of these reasons this Protein-Powered Mujadarra is a very planet-friendly dish.

Click here to read more about the impact of the livestock sector on the planet.

 

How to Reduce our Carbon Footprint

 

What can we do to reduce our carbon footprint and live more sustainably? Take shorter showers? Drive hybrid or electric vehicles? Add solar panels on our homes? All of these things help for sure.

There is way we can have profound impact each and every day, three times a day, whenever we sit down to a meal.

Eating a plant-based diet is one of the single most impactful things we, as individuals, can do for the health of the planet.

Great news…plant-based can be delicious and nutritious too.

Looking for other planet-friendly dishes, consider this Red Lentil and Spinach Dahl or Chickpea Salad with Grapes and Walnuts.

 

The Protein-Powered Mujadarra Recipe

 

Here’s the Protein-Powered Mujadarra recipe. Let me know how you like it. I love to hear from you! Hope you love it as much as we do.

 

Protein-Powered Mujadara

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Plant-based
Servings 6
Calories 289 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 4 quart sauce pan
  • 1 Large saute pan

Ingredients
  

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • tsp cumin seed
  • 1 ¾ tsp salt (divided)
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup brown lentils sorted and rinsed
  • 1 cup brown rice rinsed
  • 6 medium sweet yellow onions sliced into half moons
  • Optional garnish: 3 tablespoons fresh mint or cilantro chopped

Instructions
 

  • Heat the oil in a 4 quart saucepan over med-high heat. Saute the cumin seed for 1 minute.
  • Add 4 cups of water and 1 tsp of the salt, black pepper, lentils and rice and stir.
  • Bring to boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer for 40 minutes. (If not all of the water is absorbed after this time and the lentils and rice are cooked, remove the lid, and boil for a few minutes until the water is evaporated). Turn off heat and keep covered for 5 minutes.
  • While the rice and lentils are cooking, heat a large saucepan over medium high heat.
  • Saute the sliced onions with a few tablespoons of oil and ¾ tsp salt for 10 minutes stirring frequently and then reduce to medium-low heat and continue sauteeing until tender and caramelized, stirring periodically for 15 minutes or more.
  • Combine half of the onions with the rice and lentils.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the remaining onions. Garnish with fresh mint or cilantro

Nutrition

Calories: 289kcalProtein: 12gSaturated Fat: 0.5gFiber: 12gCalcium: 42mgIron: 1.5mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Want to access the system I created for preparing delicious and healthy vegan dishes with ease?

 

If yes, I have this FREE E-book to help you.

 

I share the Top 25 Kitchen Staples List that I always keep stocked in my kitchen and the 3 Simple and Delicious Meals I often make with them.

 

I think you will love the E-Book and your cooking experience will be transformed by it! Enter your name and email address to receive your free copy. 

Yahoo! An email containing the link to your E-book is on its way! Check your junk/spam folder, if it doesn't arrive in your inbox.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This