Mujaddara (lentils and rice with onion)

Mujaddara is a traditional favorite throughout the Middle East. It's absolute comfort food, especially when eaten with pita chips.

Ingredients

3 large yellow onions, sliced into rings
1/3 cup olive oil
4 cups water
1 cup long-grain brown basmati rice, rinsed
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
1 tsp salt
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp allspice
1 1/2 tsp cumin

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Toss the onions with the olive oil in a baking pan and roast for 40-60 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes, until well browned and reduced. The darker they get, the sweeter they'll taste. It's great if you can get them blackened a bit in spots. When they're done cooking, remove the pan from the oven and set aside.

Bring the water to boil and add the spices, salt and rice. Stir, return to a boil, and then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the lentils, stirring gently -- you don't want to break up the rice grains. Return to a boil, cover, and reduce heat back to low. Simmer for another 30 minutes or until the rice and lentils are tender.

Top the lentils and rice with the onions. Enjoy with homemade pita chips, if you like, though sauteed greens make a healthier side dish.