Mujadara Hamra (Lentils & Bulgur)

Mujadara Hamra hails from the South of Lebanon and is a flavoursome lentils and bulgur (cracked wheat) recipe topped with caramelised onions. Accidentally a vegan Lebanese recipe.

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Jump to:

• How to make Mujadara Hamra
• 🥘 INGREDIENTS
• 🔪 COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
• MUJADARA RECIPE TIPS
• ❓FAQ
• Other Vegan Lebanese Recipes
• Mujadara Hamra (Lentils & Bulgur)

Mujadara originates from the middle-east and it's main ingredient is brown (green) lentils.

This authentic Lebanese mujadara recipe without rice is from the South of Lebanon and is the hamra version: using cracked wheat (bulgur) rather than rice. I grew up on the rice version, but this recipe is equally amazing in flavour. Check out the different types of mujadara.

This can be enjoyed for lunch and dinner, both adults and kids love to eat mujadara. Due to its lentil content mujadara is high in iron. It is best served warm and with a side of Lebanese cucumber and yoghurt salad.

Or read this round-up of various sides for what to serve with mujadara.

What's also wonderful about this Lebanese lentil and bulgur dish is it's inexpensive to make. And left over burgul can be use to make an amazing burgul pilav.

How to make Mujadara Hamra

A true mjadara hamra requires no added spices or herbs, the flavours within are rich.

It's important to note Mujadara gets it's dark brown colour from the caramelisation of the onions as well as the brown lentils.

The trick with caramelising onions to get that super dark golden brown tinge, is to be patient and not fry on the hottest setting.

Just let the onions do their thing, and get them so dark (the brownest color before black). Also, keep aside some spare caramelised onion to garnish your mujadara hamra.

Another Lebanese lentil recipe to check out is lemon lentil soup - it's sour, wholesome and deeelish!

🥘 INGREDIENTS

• Brown Lentils
• Cracked wheat (bulgur) - I use extra/extra extra coarse
• Brown onions
• Olive oil
• Water
• Salt

Pre Cooking (if using dried lentils)

• Check lentils for stones that need to be discarded by sifting through.
• Wash and soak for a couple of hours (I do this to speed up the cooking process)

🔪 COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

STEP ONE

Wash lentils to rid any excess sediment

STEP TWO

Place lentils in a large pot with water, bring to boil

STEP THREE

Cover the pot of lentils and simmer over low heat about 10 minutes or until lentils are par cooked.

STEP FOUR

Drain par cooked lentils in a colander and save liquid. You will use this later

STEP FIVE

Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat

STEP SIX

Cook small chopped onions for about 30-40 minutes, stirring every few minutes until they are dark golden brown. (You'll need to be patient for this step - the onions must be like this as the dish relies on the taste and colour of the caramelised onion)

STEP SEVEN

Once onions are a dark golden colour, pour the liquid from the lentils into the onions and let it simmer for a couple of minutes to combine.

STEP EIGHT

Add the cooked lentils, salt (to taste) and cracked wheat (bulgur), stir through thoroughly.

STEP NINE

Cover the saucepan and cook over very low heat for 25-30 minutes.

MUJADARA RECIPE TIPS

Best served warm, however can be eaten cold

Caramelising the onions to a dark golden colour is an important step for the taste of this dish, it gives it the full flavour

Brown (green) lentils only - no other colour as this will result in a completely different outcome

If you are using dried brown lentils: sift through lentils to pick out any unwanted pebbles or unwanted looking lentils as well as be sure to pre-soak lentils until they have softened

Using canned lentils is fine, though I find the canned lentil variety to be a lot less smaller in size. Drain and wash lentils thoroughly to rid all murkiness

Use a heavy bottom pot - a thin pot will burn the bottom and turn the mjadara mushy. Trust me I learnt the hard way!

❓FAQ

If you're thinking about making a mujadara recipe there are a few variations including but not limited to;

• Mujadara recipe with rice
• Mujadara makhbousa - a lentil porridge also known as mujadara musafaya
• Mujadara safra - simmered red lentils and rice

Other Vegan Lebanese Recipes

Malfouf salad (ILebanese cabbage salad) or taboule pair perfectly with mjadara hamra. .

One of my childhood favourites is lentils and pasta soup called rishtaya.

In the mood to learn more about my vegan Lebanese recipes? I recommend for an easy sweet fix Lebanese rice pudding (riz bi haleeb) or for a rice that's packed with nuts and veggies (and highly requested by my family my Lebanese rice vegan.