Made with red lentils (yellow lentils) and rice, Mujadarah Safra is a soft porridge can be served hot or room temperature and is served with many onion toppings.
As my podcast guest, Mai Kakish, says: this is a humble dish, but nothing could be more delicious. Indeed, my kids asked for this for lunch 2 days in a row after I first made it!
I am even more thankful to Mai for sharing all about her Teta, who made this dish. Mai's grandmother was born, raised, suffered, loved, sacrificed, and died in Palestine. This dish was one way she nourished her family and preserved Palestinian culture in the midst of great hardship.
Questions About Mujadarah Safra:
Is this a recipe for Musalwa'a or Mujadarah Safra?
As Mai explains, "It has different names in the region. In Lebanon they call it mujadarah safra."
Mai is Palestinian, and in Palestine they call this dish Musalwa'a.
When writing this blog post, I chose the Lebanese name because more people were searching for that - actually, quite a few more. Very few seemed to know it by the Palestinian name.
Is it important to use red (or yellow) lentils for this dish?
YES! Very important. In order to achieve the porridge-like consistency that Mai enjoys, you must use red (yellow) lentils. They'll break down completely. Only the rice will retain some of its original texture. The consistency is similar to rice pudding
How should I garnish Musalwa'a?
The garnishes are essential to this dish, especially if you make it "Teta's Way" - the way that Mai loves and cherishes it. The most important garnish is onions of all kinds- carmelized onions, sumac onions, and green onions. You can also enjoy Mujadarah Safra with pickled vegetables, bread, and tomato/cucumber salad.
Where does Mujadarah Safra get its gold/yellow color?
Not from the lentils, as I expected. The color actually comes from the turmeric.
How do you make sumac onions?
Simply, you sprinkle sumac on onions and set them aside for a little while. Mai says to soften the sharpness a bit by adding olive oil and marinating them longer.
What surprises people about this Musalwa'a recipe?
People are often surprised that this porridge-like dish can be eaten straight out of the fridge. Just how my grandmother enjoyed it. It has different names in the region; in Lebanon they call it mujadarah safra.
About Mai Kakish, Contributor of this Mujadarah Safra
Mai’s grandmother was born in Palestine long before 1948 when the international community took it upon themselves to declare parts of Palestine as the new nation of Israel. She was a young woman when she saw the suffering of 1967, and already a grandmother many times over by the first Intifada of 1987, when both of her sons were arrested. One of those sons, Mai’s father, was imprisoned for a year, without charges or evidence in the Negev desert. At night, he and fellow prisoners took shifts watching for dangerous wild animals. Later, Teta Um Hanna’s grandsons, Mai’s brothers, were arrested in the second Intifada. Although they were juveniles, they were tried and imprisoned as adults. Victimized by the occupation until the very end, Teta Um Hanna’s ambulance was stopped and searched by Israeli’s soldiers as she was rushed, dying, into Jerusalem. This is a difficult thing for any family to accept.
However, we do not join Mai in honoring Teta Um Hanna because she suffered these things. Rather, we honor Teta Um Hanna because of the things she did with her life: She raised her siblings, her children, and her grandchildren with love and patience. She joined countless other Palestinian women in preserving their culture & recipes, becoming breadwinners, nurturing children made fatherless through resistance, and feeding their entire worlds. How did she manage to do these things? She did them all through her garden, her cooking, and the joy she took in both.
Regardless of our politics (which may or may not be influenced by Mai’s powerful story), today, Listener, you and I are coming together to honor this small but mighty woman and the many other women she represents.
What Palestinian Lentils and Rice
Means to Mai
This was one of my grandmother's favorite recipes. She would make it in large batches and distribute it among family members. She garnished it so beautifully and it’s one of the last meals we ever cooked together.
Learn More About Mai of Almond & Fig
Episode 136: Honoring the Women of Palestine
Follow The Storied Recipe in Your Favorite Player
Equipment List
- Large stockpot OR enameled Dutch oven
- Skillet
- Serving platter for Mujadarah Safra OR little ramekins
Recipe
Mujadarah Safra (aka Musalwa’a): Palestinian Lentils and Rice
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Olive oil
- One large Onion, diced
- 3 cups Red lentils rinsed
- 1.5 cups Short grain rice (rinsed few times until water runs clear)
- 9 cups Water (plus more if needed)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Turmeric
- 2 Bay leaves
Crispy onions
- 1/2 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 large Onions thinly sliced
Garnishes
- Chopped Parsley 3-4 tbls
- 1 Yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon Sumac
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
Instructions
- In a heavy soup pot or a dutch oven, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and the chopped onion. Stir until the onions soften about 5 minutes.
- Rinse your lentils. Add the lentils to the onions and add the water. Bring the mixture to a boil. Skim the foam off the top
- Tip: for every cup of red lentils add 3 cups of water or stock
- Add the rinsed rice, spices, bay leaf and stir to combine. Let it cook until the rice and lentils are tender and cooked through about 45 minutes. Make sure you stir often so they don’t stick to the bottom.
- Add more water if mixture is too thick 1/2 cup at a time. (I added an additional 1.5-2 cups of water) because it all depends on the type of rice you use. We are looking for a porridge consistency
- In the meantime In a medium pan heat the olive oil and fry the onions till they are golden-brown. Add a pinch of salt to season. Don’t rush this process it will take up to 30-45 minutes to achieve the right caramelization. Stir your onions often.
- Once the onions are caramelized strain them on a paper towel but reserve the cooking olive oil.
- Once the lentils and rice are cooked through. Add the olive oil left over from cooking the onions into the lentil and rice mixture and fold until all the oil is combine into the lentils. The olive oil will make this mixture super silky and pudding like.
- Reserve the fried onions to garnish the top
- The thickness of this porridge is up to you if you like it more runny, add a bit more water
To serve**
- Pour into a serving platter or little bowls.
Garnishes**
- Toss the raw sliced onions with a teaspoon of sumac and half a teaspoon of cumin.
- Garnish the top of the bowls with the crispy onions, sumac raw onions, fresh minced parsley and a sprinkling of cumin.
- The best part about this dish is it’s eaten hot or at room temperature or even straight out of the fridge. Serve with chopped vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and an assortment of pickles and olives.
Storing
- This will last for up to a week in the fridge. Making for the best summer lunch or dinner or even as a side.
Megan says
This is sooooooo delicious! I made last night for supper and my husband and I couldn't help ourselves and had a second helping each. I forgot the rice (ooops) and with lentils alone it was so yummy. Will be making again and will add the rice next time. Looking forward to trying more Palestinian recipes. Free Palestine.
admin says
Hi Megan!! Such a wonderful recipe from Mai - a favorite in our family as well!!! I hope you were able to listen to her episode while you made it!! Thank you so much for reaching out. Xoxo.
Sarah says
I accidentally put two onions in the lentils, but wow, this was so simple and so delicious. As a fan of lentils who is always looking for new recipes I plan on making this often.
admin says
According to Mai, there is no such thing as too many onions in this recipe!! I am so glad you liked it as much as we did!