Mujadara

Mujadara (or mujaddara in Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine, and Mudardara in Syrian cuisine) is a gluten-free pilaf made with brown or green lentils, long-grain or basmati rice, and caramelized onions, seasoned with cumin and coriander and served warm, chilled, or at room temperature as a side dish. From Indian khichdi to Egyptian kushari and Iranian addas polo, this protein-rich combination of rice and lentils may be found throughout Middle Eastern cuisine.

Mujadara is a great hearty base for just about anything, from a fried or poached egg to roasted meat or grilled fish—the slight sweetness from the fried onions, combined with the aromatic spice notes, livens up just about anything— but you can also serve it with a dollop of labneh or plain Greek yogurt and a cucumber-tomato herb salad with mint and cilantro.