Easy Instant Pot Mujadara (Lentils and Rice)
Instant pot mujadara is a quick and easy version of this classic Middle Eastern dish, made in your pressure cooker.
Mujadara is a dish that is simple, delicious, and budget-friendly. It is a popular vegan and vegetarian dish, as it is packed with protein and fiber. Whether you are looking for an easy weeknight meal or a hearty dish to share with friends, this recipe is sure to please!
In just over 30 minutes, you’ll have a delicious and healthy meal that’s perfect for any day of the week. Give it a try using the recipe below!
🍛 What is Mujadara?
Mujadara (or Mujadarra) is a traditional Arab recipe and is typically made with rice and lentils combined with fragrant spices and herbs. The meaning of mujadara in Arabic is “pockmarked”, or “pimpled” by the lentils! Bulgar is also another option for mujadara, instead of rice.
Mujadara is a healthy and hearty vegan or vegetarian dish. It can be served as a main dish or as a side, depending on your preferences.
The dish gets its distinctive flavor from the spices and herbs that are used to season it, which can include cumin, mint, cilantro, and cinnamon. I typically include cilantro in my version of mujadara since I put it in most of our meals due to my intense love for its flavor!
The dish is thought to date back to ancient times and it is believed to have originated in the Middle East, specifically Iraq. It has a long history as do the ingredients in the dish.
Depending on the culture, sometimes the rice and lentils are mashed or pureed but more commonly the two are cooked and kept whole, creating contrast in texture.
Mujadara is a pretty phenomenal meal because it’s so easy to make and tastes amazing. But what else? The combination of lentils with rice forms a complete protein (oh YES)! It is also packed with fiber and other nutrients that are much needed in any diet.
But these facts will be the last things on your mind when you start taking bites of this warming, comforting, flavorful, and wholesome meal!
✋ How Do You Pronounce Mujadara?
It is pronounced moo-zha-DAH-rah, which is Turkish for “both together.” In Arabic, it’s most often pronounced as m’jaddara.
🥘 How to Make Instant Pot Mujadara
In addition to being easy to make, mujadara also happens to be made from the pantry staples discussed below (once you have the right lentils on hand). As a result of its peasant roots, this is a perfect budget food meal in our household!
🫘 Mujadara Ingredients
The basic authentic ingredients are rice, lentils, onions, and spices.
RICE: I use and love basmati rice as it is a staple in my pantry. You can use any long-grain white rice you like. However, you may also use brown rice except you will have to adjust the cooking time, adding the lentils halfway through the pressure cooking time. This gives the brown rice an extra ten minutes of cooking time.
LENTILS: Lentils are my favorite legumes to cook and eat! My recommendation is to use a mix of lentils to create more visual interest and texture. Great options are black (beluga) lentils, masoor dal (brown lentils), and French green lentils.
ONIONS: You will need three large yellow onions to get the amount of caramelized flavor that is desirable in this instant pot mujadara.
Two chopped onions are used directly in the cooking of the lentils and rice and one onion is sliced thin and reserved for deep caramelization to be used on top of the dish. Minced garlic is added for flavor as well.
SEASONINGS: Other ingredients used in mujadara are olive oil, salt, and aromatic spices such as cumin and cinnamon. Ground coriander is also delicious in mujadara, yet it is optional.
Using fresh herbs such as mint, parsley, or cilantro to garnish the mujadara is preferred but not absolutely necessary.
Mujadara Instructions
- Place the lentils in a bowl and soak them for at least 1 hour in hot water. Use enough water so that the lentils have an inch or two of water above them in the bowl.
- Drain and rinse the lentils very well after soaking.
- Wash and rinse the rice well in a sieve, until the water runs clear. This process removes debris and provides other benefits as well.
- Turn your instant pot on and set it to the saute function.
- Add 2 tbsp of olive oil and chopped onions. Sauté, stirring often for 5-7 minutes until onions are golden but not blackening.
- Add minced garlic, cumin, salt, and cinnamon to the onions. Sauté for one minute, stirring.
- Add lentils and water to the pot. Bring lentils to a boil for 2-3 minutes and then add rice, stirring to mix. Bring everything back to a boil.
- Turn off/cancel the sauté function and secure the lid for pressure cooking.
- Set your instant pot to manual/high pressure for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a pan set over medium heat, using olive oil, caramelize the reserved sliced onion. This takes a while but they will be complete when the rice and lentils finish cooking.
- When the timer goes off let the instant pot SLOW release naturally for 15 minutes before opening.
- Do not stir the finished rice and lentils but rather pour them out into a platter and top with desired garnishes and topping.
🧅 How to Caramelize Onions for Mujadara
Caramelizing onions is a simple cooking technique that can transform the humble onion into a sweet and savory ingredient that can elevate any dish.
The key to caramelizing onions is to slice them thinly, so they cook evenly.
Then, olive oil is added to a pan over medium heat and the onions are sauteed until they are deeply golden brown, some edges are black but not burned.
The process takes patience, as the onions need to be stirred over a 20-minute period to prevent them from burning. But the results are well worth the effort! Don’t turn up the heat to try to speed up the process as the onions will burn.
Caramelized onions add a depth of flavor to any dish, making it more complex and irresistible. For mujadara, these onions are absolutely a key component of the dish so don’t skip this ingredient!
What is an Instant Pot?
An Instant Pot is a type of electric pressure cooker that has gained popularity in recent years due to its convenience and versatility.
It can be used to cook a variety of foods, from rice and beans to chicken and ribs, in a fraction of the time it would take using conventional methods.
Additionally, the Instant Pot can be used as a slow cooker, yogurt maker, and steamer, making it a true one-pot wonder. Because it seals in moisture during cooking, food comes out flavorful and tender every time.
For this recipe, I use my 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker.
🍋 How to Serve Instant Pot Lentils and Rice (Mujadara)
Mujadara is a dish that stands well on its own and is truly a one-pot dinner! Take advantage of this and serve it with special toppings and sides that truly complete the meal.
This dish is topped with lots of crispy or deeply caramelized onions (they really make the dish) and is typically served with a dollop of plain yogurt and fresh herbs. Use a coconut yogurt option if you are vegan.
Most commonly, it is served hot straight from the pot, however, this instant pot mujadara is also delicious served just slightly warm, or at room temperature.
A versatile recipe, mujadara can be served with a variety of sides such as meat, salad, or grilled vegetables.
🌿 Optional Toppings, Sides, and Subs for Mujadara
While the below items are not ALL traditional toppings, it is fun to be creative and experiment with ingredients. In addition, sprucing up leftovers with whatever one has in the fridge is always fun and exciting!
- Sliced lemon wedges (Traditional but try lime as an alternative!)
- Plain whole milk yogurt, Greek yogurt, or unsweetened plant-based yogurt such as coconut milk yogurt.
- Chopped herbs such as mint, cilantro, and parsley (Traditional)
- Toasted pine nuts
- Scallions
- Hot sauce
- Sauteed red peppers and onions
- Chopped avocado
- Shredded, sliced, or cubed browned meats such as chicken or beef.
- Sauteed and seasoned tofu
- Side salad of tomato, cucumber, and sliced red onion
- For an even more protein-packed meal, top it with an over-easy egg!
- Served over salad greens such as spinach, arugula, or salad bowl mix.
- Try red onion or shallots for the crispy onion topping
- Serve atop or on the side with sautéed greens
⏰ Can Mujadara be Made Ahead?
Yes, absolutely!
Mujadara reheats beautifully and is a wonderful meal to prep ahead for dinner on your busy weekday nights. Simply cover and reheat using your oven of choice.
In fact, this is also an excellent dish to make ahead before a camping trip and serve alongside classic camping foods such as chili, and grilled meats or you can even serve it for breakfast with an egg on top!
🍚 Conclusion: Instant Pot Mujadara
I am guessing it won’t take you long to grab the ingredients to make this super delicious aromatic combination of long grain rice, lentils, and caramelized onions for yourself! Instant pot meals are super convenient and this one has such a minimal list of ingredients.
Mujadara is also an ideal healthy budget dish that is nutritious and satisfying so serve it up to a large group, bring it along to a potluck or just tack it onto your trusty list of regular meals for your family. Enjoy!
Another vegetarian side dish you will LOVE is this Gluten-Free Corn Casserole with Green Chiles!
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Instant Pot Mujadara Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1 cup pre-soaked lentils see notes
- 2 large onions diced (about 4 cups)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic or 2-3 cloves of garlic
- 3 cups water
- 1.5 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 inch piece of cinnamon stick or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
TOPPINGS
- 1 large onion, sliced thin into halves or rounds
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
SIDES
- 1 cup plain whole yogurt or plant-based yogurt
- 2 tbsp minced cilantro or mint
- 1 lemon, sliced into 8 wedges
Instructions
- Soak lentils for 1 hour in hot water (enough to cover the lentils).
- Drain and rinse lentils after soaking.
- Rinse the rice well until water runs clear.
- Turn instant pot on to saute function.
- Add 2 tbsp of olive oil and chopped onions. Sauté, stirring often for 5-7 minutes until onions are golden but not blackening.
- Add minced garlic, cumin, salt, and cinnamon to the onions. Sauté for one minute, stirring.
- Add lentils and water to the pot.
- Bring lentils to a boil for 2-3 minutes and then add rice, stirring to mix. Bring everything back to a boil.
- Turn off/cancel the sauté function and secure the lid.
- Set instant pot to manual/high pressure for 10 minutes (see notes).
- Let instant pot SLOW release naturally for 15 minutes.
- To serve, gently fluff the lentils and rice with a fork and place on a platter, do not stir or you will mush the grains and legumes.
TOPPING
- Meanwhile, while instant pot is under pressure, set a pan over medium heat. Add olive oil and the reserved sliced onions. Caramelize the onions over a 20-minute period, taking care to stir often. Add salt.
SIDE
- Mix yogurt and herbs together in a small bowl and serve on the side with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Black lentils, masoor dal, or French green lentils can be used for this dish. A mix is fun for contrast. Soak time remains the same despite the size of the lentils.
- It takes a 6 qt pressure 4 minutes to come to pressure. Factor this into your cook time.
- This can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen, reheated, and used as a healthy base for mid-week lunches.
