Mujadara

• 1 cup brown lentils (whole masoor dal)
• 1 1/2 cups long grain white or brown rice (I used a steamed short grain variety called jeera rice)
• 4 medium sized onions, sliced thin
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp ginger paste
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 1/4 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp red chilli flakes
• salt to taste
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp chopped coriander for garnishing

1. You can cook the rice and the lentils together, but it is easier if you cook them separately as one can ensure the rice and lentils do not cook into a mush.
2. Cook the rice with some salt and a tsp of oil till well done but the grains are separate. Spread the rice on a plate to cool.
3. Also cook the lentils with enough water (do not add salt as the lentils might not cook if you do) till they're done but whole.
4. You can cook them on the stove top. I personally always cook my lentils, and the rice too, in a pressure cooker.
5. Melt the butter and oil in a large pan , large enough to contain the rice and lentils. Add the sliced onions and salt, stirring occasionally, and cook them over medium heat till soft. Turn heat up slightly and keep stirring the onions frequently till deep brown and almost crisp. Remove the onions and spread on a paper towel to drain.
6. There will be a little oil-butter mixture in the pan. Don't turn off the heat and add the garlic and ginger pastes to this and saute for a couple of minutes. Turn down the heat to low and add the cumin powder and garam masala powder.
7. Saute this for a minute and add half the caramelized onion, the cooked lentils and rice. Also add the chilli flakes and some more salt if necessary.
8. Gently mix everything together. Turn off the heat. Add the lemon juice and mix well.
9. Transfer the mujadara onto your serving dish and uniformly sprinkle with the remaining onions and chopped coriander. Serve warm with some plain or seasoned yogurt for a very filling and well balanced meal.

brown lentils, long grain white, onions, butter, oil, garlic, ginger paste, garam masala, cumin, red chilli, salt, lemon juice, coriander for

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/mujadara-50114585 (may not work)