Mujadara (Bulgur with Lentils – Bulgur is cracked wheat)

Al-Mujadara is a vegetarian famous food in Syria, because of it’s delicious taste and high nutritional value.

Traditionally, many Syrians used to eat it with families and friends especially in Turkish Hammams (baths)

Mujadara is known as “poor man’s food” and Christians food during the Great Holy Fast in the spring, when “fasters” are required to eat a mainly vegan diet for 55 days.

The first recorded recipe for this food can be found in an Iraqi cookbook that was published in 1226.

There are various forms of Mujadara, as Mujadara hamra, mujadara Makhbousa, Mujadara with rice and Mujadara with bulgur, and there are many ways to cook it.

  Ingredients

   2 cups green or brown lentils

   1⅓ cups bulgur wheat (medium or coarse)

   2 onions

   3/4 cup olive oil

   6 cups water

   Salt

Preparation

1- Boil the lentil with water in a pot for 20-30 minutes until done. Keep 3 cups of the cooking water.

2- Sauté the onion wedges with olive oil. Remove half of them when they turn yellow and leave the rest on a medium heat until they turn brown

3- Meanwhile, wash the bulgur and add it to the lentil and its water. Add around 1 teaspoon of salt and mix. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and cover the pot, until the bulgur absorbs all the water.

4- When the bulgur is done, add the reserved yellow onions and olive oil and mix well.

5- Pour bulgur and lentils in serving plate, and add fried onions on the top. Serve hot with fresh yogurt or salad on the side.

H.Z