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Home » Vegan Lebanese Recipes

What to Serve with Mujadara

Published: Mar 6, 2023 by Janelle Hama

Ever wondered what to serve with Mujadara? The famous Arabic pure comfort food of lentils and rice. In this article, I'll share a variety of mujadara side dishes enjoyed by my Middle Eastern family. 

a collage of different salads, soups and tofu skewers

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Jump to:
  • What To Serve With Mujadara?
  • 🍅Fresh and Pickled Sides with Mujadara
  • 🥗Fresh Salads With Mujadara
  • 🥣Soups With Mujadara
  • 🍢Non Traditional Side Dishes
  • 🍚 Related Recipes

I have written about the different types of mujadara and even explain in that article where its origins lie.

I have also documented the varying simple recipes that will surprise you with how flavorful they are;

Mdardara

Mujadara hamra

Mujadara safra

Mujadara makhbousa

So it’s only fitting that I delve into the side dishes my Lebanese family enjoys alongside mujadara.

I must also point out that fresh produce, in some form or fashion, is always served with every meal. You'll notice this pattern.

At the end of this roundup, you will find a couple of non-traditional sides that I personally like to eat, because mixing it up is sometimes fabulous!

Whether you're hosting a dinner party or looking for the perfect complement, this list of sides will leave you feeling inspired and satisfied.

mujadara topped with caramelized onions, chopped radish and a side of salad

What To Serve With Mujadara?

Any one of the following side dishes can be served alongside mujadara on its own and will build a complex flavor profile.

However, sometimes, a combination of these side dishes can be plated together to create a well-varied plate. 

For example, we might take a dollop of the cucumber yogurt salad, with a serving of cabbage salad and some pickles to enjoy alongside mujadara.

If you're eating the porridge style of lentils and rice then you could pair it with oven-baked pita bread. I have to say, this is super tasty!

🍅Fresh and Pickled Sides with Mujadara

As a general rule of thumb, when enjoying a savory Lebanese dish, you can almost always be guaranteed a plate of fresh vegetables.

This is what we like to call the Lebanese vegetable side plate.

It normally will consist of freshly cut radish, tomato, mint leaves, and onion.

It also includes olives, pickled green chilies and pickled pink turnip (affiliate link), we refer to these types of pickles as "kabees" in Arabic.

🥗Fresh Salads With Mujadara

Malfouf Salad
This is known as Lebanese cabbage salad, and is a perfect example of taking a few ingredients and creating something delicious. The sourness of this salad coupled with the flavors of mjadara will make your taste buds sing.
Malfouf Salad
a blue bowl of Malfouf salad
Khyar bi Laban
Another simple salad of finely diced cucumber in a garlic and yogurt sauce. This really does help to create complex flavors.
Khyar bi Laban
cucumber yogurt salad in a terracotta plate
Fattoush Salad
A rock-star of a salad. It is one of Lebanon’s best. Think of it as an amped up garden salad, tossed in a sour and sweet dressing with crunchy pita pieces. This salad is the perfect pairing with mjadara.
Fattoush
fatoush salad top down view
Taboule
The famous Lebanese national salad, its main ingredient is freshly chopped parsley tossed in a lemon dressing with diced tomato, onion and cracked wheat. Take a spoonful of this with the mjadara and you won't be disappointed.
Taboule Salad
A white bowl of parsley salad with two silver spoons
Arabic Salad
Is a go-to chopped salad. Fairly simple to prepare and a tasty way to get additional fibre into your meal.
Arabic Salad
a white bowl filled with chopped colourful vegetables as a salad
Tomato and Onion Salad
A sweet, juicy and bitey salad made with tomatoes and onions dressed in sumac. A perfect contrast to the rice and lentils.
Tomato and Onion Salad
a white plate filled with sliced tomato and onion salad with spices and seasoning on the side

🥣Soups With Mujadara

During cooler months, we like to enjoy either of the following soups as a starter. Creating a lovely cozy meal.

Shorbet Adas
This Lebanese lentil soup is a mixture of vegetables, red lentils and spices. When we eat this with mjadara, it is normally watered down.
Shorbet Adas
white bowl of yellow soup toped with chop parsley and slices of lemon
Carrot and Celery Soup
A very basic clear soup, that is great before eating rice. Made with simple vegetables. This soup can be easily added to.
Carrot and Celery Soup
carrot and celery soup in a white bowl side view

🍢Non Traditional Side Dishes

There is no good reason why you can't enjoy food the way you like it, though some traditionalists like to argue this. You know who you are.

So here are some foods that aren't so typical.

Orange and Fennel Salad
A juicy, crispy and bitey salad made with sliced fennel, onion, arugula and segmented oranges. This pairing surprised me. The marriage of the sweet juicy salad with the lentils and rice really is a winner.
Orange and Fennel Salad
a round white plate with orange and green salad
Vegan Shish Tawook
Enjoy the flavors of shish tawook with these Middle Eastern tofu skewers. Place a couple of skewers on the side, with a salad of choice from the above and you've got a chefs kiss situation.
Vegan Shish Tawook
three skewers of grill tofu on lettuce
a collage of different salads

🍚 Related Recipes

Similar vegan Lebanese recipes that also include grains or lentils to check out include freekeh soup, lentils and pasta soup, vegan maqluba or bulgur with vermicelli.

If you're looking for something sweet to finish off your meal, try baklawa (Lebanese baklava) or namoura.

You can wash your meal down with a refreshing Lemonana, a lemon mint juice.

Did you figure out what to serve with Mujadara? Which side appealed to you?

Or do you have a recommendation that is not on this list?

Leave a comment below, I would love to know.

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Heya, I'm Janelle! I've been a messy but delicious cook for a couple of decades now.

In the last few years, I've converted to a vegan diet and have fallen in love with the flavors that can be created from plants.

I specialize in vegan Lebanese food and I'm excited to share these amazing recipes with you.

Let's cook together!

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