Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Easy Mujadara Recipe: A comforting, hearty vegan dinner ready in 30 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly cooked lentils every time. The warm, earthy flavors of this dish will make your kitchen feel cozy and inviting. Start by sautéing onions until golden and fragrant. Then, add lentils, rice, and spices for a flavorful base. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Roasted Beet Salad with Feta and Fresh Dill and Crispy Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes Easy and Quick.
Why This Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Packed with protein and fiber for a satisfying meal
- Ready in just 30 minutes for busy weeknights
- Better than takeout and freezer-friendly for meal prep
- Customize with your favorite vegetables and spices
What You'll Need for Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 cup green or brown lentils
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Lemon wedges
- Optional: Crumbled feta or vegan feta (optional)
📝 Ingredient Notes
- lentils: Make sure to rinse and pick over lentils before cooking.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Saves time and cooks lentils perfectly every time → See on Amazon
- High-quality vegetable broth — Enhances the flavor of the dish → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
- Sauté onions and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Cook lentils and rice: Add rinsed lentils, rice, diced tomatoes (with juice), vegetable broth, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using) to the pot. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until lentils and rice are tender.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve Mujadara hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley, lemon wedges, and crumbled feta or vegan feta (if using).
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the lentils. They can become mushy if left to simmer too long. Keep an eye on them and adjust cooking time as needed.
- Pro tip: For a thicker stew, cook the Mujadara uncovered for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking time.
- Pro tip: To make this dish even heartier, add cooked chickpeas or your favorite vegetables like spinach or bell peppers.
Storing & Reheating Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This dish can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
Freezing Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free vegetable broth and ensure your rice is certified gluten-free.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the rice with quinoa or bulgur for a different texture and flavor.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your lentils are still not tender after 30 minutes of cooking, add more water or vegetable broth and continue to simmer until they are cooked through.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality olive oil — Enhances the flavor of the sautéed onions and garlic → Check price on Amazon
Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup green or brown lentils
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 1 large onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 4 cups vegetable broth
Seasonings
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Lemon wedges
- Crumbled feta or vegan feta (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté onions and garlic: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onions and cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Cook lentils and rice: Add rinsed lentils, rice, diced tomatoes (with juice), vegetable broth, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using) to the pot. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until lentils and rice are tender.
- Serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve Mujadara hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley, lemon wedges, and crumbled feta or vegan feta (if using).
Notes
- Chef tip: To make this dish gluten-free, use gluten-free vegetable broth and ensure your rice is certified gluten-free.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the rice with quinoa or bulgur for a different texture and flavor.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If your lentils are still not tender after 30 minutes of cooking, add more water or vegetable broth and continue to simmer until they are cooked through.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
- Make ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 18g
- Fat: 5g
- Carbs: 60g
- Fiber: 15g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sat. Fat: 0.7g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe FAQs
Yes, Mujadara can be made ahead of time and reheated for a quick and easy meal. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.
If your lentils are still not tender after 30 minutes of cooking, add more water or vegetable broth and continue to simmer until they are cooked through. You can also try using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker to speed up the cooking process.
Yes, Mujadara is a healthy and nutritious dish packed with protein and fiber from the lentils and rice. It's also low in fat and calories, making it an excellent option for a balanced and satisfying meal.
Yes, you can make Mujadara in the Instant Pot. Combine all ingredients in the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 10-12 minutes, followed by a natural release. This will result in perfectly cooked lentils and rice every time.
To add extra flavor to your Mujadara, try adding cooked chickpeas, your favorite vegetables like spinach or bell peppers, or a sprinkle of smoked paprika or cumin before serving.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Mujadara Lentils and Rice Vegan Dinner Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
