Sugar-Free Mujaddara

Delight your taste buds with this wholesome and flavorful Sugar-Free Mujaddara, a simplified yet hearty variation of the classic Middle Eastern comfort dish. Featuring tender brown or green lentils, fluffy rice, and perfectly caramelized onions, this recipe is naturally sweetened by the deep, rich flavors of the onions themselves—no added sugar needed! A warm blend of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and allspice infuses the dish with fragrant, earthy spices, while a finishing touch of fresh parsley adds a burst of bright color and freshness. Perfect as a vegan main course or a savory side dish, this sugar-free Mujaddara is as nutritious as it is satisfying, ready in just under an hour. Serve it warm and enjoy a filling, plant-based meal that’s both wholesome and irresistibly aromatic.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup brown or green lentils
• 1 cup long-grain white or brown rice
• 4 cups water
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large onions
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley

Directions

Step 1

Rinse the lentils under cold water and place them in a medium saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, for about 15 minutes or until the lentils are just tender. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

While the lentils are cooking, rinse the rice under cold water. In another saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, then stir in the rice. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for about 15-20 minutes for white rice or 40-45 minutes for brown rice, until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Set aside.

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Peel and slice the onions thinly, then add them to the skillet. Sauté for about 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are deeply caramelized and golden brown. Remove a few tablespoons of onions for garnish and set aside.

Step 4

Add the cooked lentils and rice to the skillet with the remaining caramelized onions. Stir in the ground cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and pepper, mixing everything well to combine the flavors.

Step 5

Continue to cook the mixture on low heat for another 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, to ensure the flavors meld together beautifully.

Step 6

Transfer the Mujaddara to a serving dish and garnish with the reserved caramelized onions and fresh parsley.

Step 7

Serve warm as a main dish or a side accompaniment.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1748.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1145.7

Total Fat 58.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 9.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.3g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3602.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 130.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.6g	0%
Total Sugars 17.7g
Protein 28.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 267.6mg	0%
Iron 11.1mg	0%
Potassium 1498.5mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 45.5%

Protein: 9.7%

Carbs: 44.8%