Lebanese Lentil/Rice Pilaf With Blackened Onions

Chef Kate's Note:

This recipe first appeared as part of a "meatless week-night meal" in the November, 2003 Bon Appetit. Originally posted by Mean Chef. Vegans can omit the yogurt.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 2 (14 ounce) cans vegetable broth
• 3/4 cup dried lentils, rinsed, picked over
• 3/4 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 large onions, sliced
• 3 tomatoes, quartered lengthwise
• 1 cucumber, peeled, cut into rounds
• plain yogurt
• chopped fresh mint

Directions:

1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add chopped onion and next 4 ingredients; sauté until onion softens, about 4 minutes.
3. Add broth and lentils; bring to boil.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
5. Stir in rice; return to boil.
6. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until liquid is absorbed and rice and lentils are tender, about 15 minutes longer.
7. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
8. Add sliced onions; sauté until soft and beginning to blacken, about 20 minutes.
9. Season pilaf to taste with salt and pepper.
10. Transfer to plates; top with blackened onions.
11. Place tomatoes and cucumber alongside.
12. Top pilaf with dollop of yogurt.
13. Sprinkle with mint.

Reviews

[time4takeout]

Wow, this is almost exactly like the lentils and Rice my Grandma used to make. The key to the flavor is getting the onions nice and dark. Grandma used a cast iron skillet. Also, we served it with lettuce leaves sprinkled with lemon juice. She said using your hands to eat was "the Lebanese way." Of course Grandma was born in the states, so who knows! Thanks for posting!

[Is it tasty?]

For me who likes mild food, I found the dish bland. I used brown rice and found the lentils took longer to cook than the rice; about 35 minutes. Otherwise, I followed the recipe to a T. The onions were the only thing with flavour, and the dish was definitely better when eaten with the yogurt and mint. Still, I don't anticipate making this again unless DH is keen.

[Chef rmshill]

This was good but next time I would up the spice amount and also use beef broth instead of veg to give it more flavor. Needs a lot of salt and peppers also. We served as a side dish but I could see this in a tortilla also.