What is Mujadara? A dish of lentils and rice garnished with onions. Take the time to transform the humble onion into a crowning glory on this lentil-rice dish.   Delicious even just with rice, but the super combo of lentils & rice give us a complete protein.   Warm spices with the rice are highly addictive.   Give it the gourmet feel with a drizzle of good quality tahini blended with a little warm water and crushed garlic, or a good scoop of plain yogurt.   

Ingredients for Mujadara

1 cup green or brown lentils, cooked until al dente, or 1 can of lentils 
2 onions, thinly sliced
3 tbsp flour
oil for frying

1 tsp. each cumin seeds and coriander seeds
¾ cup basmati rice (we love this Tilda brand) 
½ tsp. turmeric
½ tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
plenty of salt and freshly ground black pepper

Yogurt for drizzling (or Tahini Sauce), optional 

 How to make Mujadara

1. In a large frying pan with a lid, heat enough olive to cover the bottom of the pan
2. Toss onions with flour and then fry in the oil, in batches, until golden brown and crisp;  remove to a paper-towel lined plate and lightly salt.  
3. In the same pan, add cumin and coriander seeds; fry briefly before adding basmati rice, turmeric, allspice and cinnamon.  Fry for one minute and then add 1 ¼ cup water.  Stir in lentils. 
4. Season with salt and pepper, bring to a simmer, cover, and turn heat to lowest setting
5. Cook 15 minutes, then turn heat off and allow to sit for five minutes.  Serve with onions on top, garnished with yogurt or tahini!  

 Looking for more Middle Eastern Influence?  Click HERE for our Shawarma At Home class!  

1 large, ripe tomato, diced (remove some of the seeds) 
1-2 green onions, very finely sliced 
1 large clove of fresh, local garlic, finely minced 
Juice of 1 lemon 
2 tbsp. good quality olive oil 
A small handful of fresh basil, torn or roughly chopped

12 Scallops*
Salt, as needed
Oil (neutral), as needed 

*KEY TIP: Purchase a U10 or a 10-20 size FAS (frozen at sea) scallop.  We buy Comeau brand scallops from Nova Scotia at T&J Seafoods in Kitchener. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight.   

1. Make tomato lemon sauce:  In a bowl mix together tomato, green onion, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil & herbs.  Season with a few good pinches of salt.  Set aside at room temperature, make up to a few hours ahead of time.  
2. Place scallops on a paper-towel lined plate.  Remove the abductor muscle (a small, opaque white piece attached to the scallop. Some may not have one).  Season very well with salt (pepper will burn).  
3. Pan-sear scallops: preheat a frying pan over medium-high heat.  For best results, use a stainless steel or aluminum frying pan, not a non-stick.  Preheating the pan (without any oil in it) is key to getting that crust.  Put your hood fan on!  
4. Once your pan is hot (you'll place your hand over top of the pan, and only be able to hold it there for about 5 seconds), drizzle in a neutral oil, 1-2 tsp.
5. Your pan will smoke so act quickly: quickly PLACE (don't drop) your scallops onto the pan.  Allow to cook for about 90 seconds, undisturbed before turning over for a further 60-90 seconds.  Good quality scallops should be served medium to medium-well (i.e. there should be a thin line of translucency in the center of the scallop). 
6. Serve immediately in a shallow dish with tomato lemon sauce, and some warm baguette to mop up all the juices.  Enjoy!

Spring Roll Stir-Fry with Jasmine Rice 

1 lb ground chicken 
1 tbsp. oil 
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and finely chopped 
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 
4 green onions, finely sliced  
1 long red chili, finely sliced 
1 large carrot, julienne or grated 
¼ piece of savoy cabbage, finely sliced 
2 tbsp. fish sauce 
1 tbsp. soy sauce 
Juice of 1 lime 
Handful of fresh mint leaves, finely sliced 
2 tbsp. toasted peanuts, chopped (optional) 

1. Pre-heat a wide frying pan over medium-high heat
2. Drizzle in oil, followed by ground chicken.  It’ll sputter and spit for the first little bit while you break it up.  After it is broken up, leave on the heat, undisturbed, allowing it to crisp, about 3-4 minutes.  
3. Stir, and then add in ginger, garlic, green onion and chili.  Stir-fry for 1 minute, then add in carrot and cabbage.  Stir-fry for another minute. 
4. Add in fish sauce, soy sauce and lime juice.  
5. Serve with jasmine rice, garnish with fresh mint and peanuts, if using.  

Jasmine Rice
1 ½ cups Jasmine Rice
1 ¾ cups water

1. Rinse and swirl rice in your pot about 3 times.
2. Drain water and then add the 1 ¾  cups fresh water.
3. Bring rice to the boil over high heat.  Continue to boil until you see steam holes and not a lot of visible water, about 6 minutes.  At this point cover and turn heat to lowest setting. Steam for 10 minutes
4. Turn off heat and let stand for 10 minutes, up to 30 minutes.