*  Exported from  MasterCook  *
 
                        MJADDRA (LENTILS WITH RICE)
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 4    Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Vegetarian                       Main Dish
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    2       c            Lentils
      3/4   c            Uncooked rice
    2       md           Onions -- chopped
      1/2   c            Olive oil
    1       tb           Salt
      1/4   ts           Cumin
      1/2   ts           Allspice or bhar
 
   Clean and wash the lentils and boil them until tender.
   Mash and strain into a separate pot.  Add the rice,
   salt, and spices, and mix well. In a pan, saute the
   chopped onions in oil until golden. Add them with the
   frying oil to the lentils and rice.  Bring the mixture
   to the boil with enough water to cover and simmer over
   low heat for about 10 minutes, until the rice is
   cooked, stirring regularly to prevent sticking.  Serve
   lukewarm or cold with radishes and spring onions or a
   cabbage salad.
   
   That’s the recipe straight from the book.  I make a
   couple changes: first of all, I'm a bit liberal with
   the cumin and allspice - I don't use measuring spoons,
   and I'm sure I get more than the 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon.
   Bhar, btw, is described by the book as “a spice blend
   made of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.  It is very
   similar in flavor to allspice, which may be
   substituted for it.” I use brown basmati rice, so I
   have to boil it for more than 10 minutes; this means I
   have to keep adding water to it so it doesn't dry out.
   
   I mean to go back to the restaurant I first had this
   dish at and ask them what spices they use, since
   theirs is both spicier and darker than mine.
   
   Food For The Vegetarian - Traditional Lebanese Recipes
   Posted by: bobp@msi.com (Bob Pitha)
  
 
 
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