Megadarra, Esau's Dish, Or Lentils With Rice

Total Time: 50 mins Preparation Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 4 tablespoons butter or 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 ounces green lentils (225g) or 8 ounces brown lentils, washed (225g)
• 1 1/4 pints water (725ml)
• 8 ounces rice, washed (225g)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 2 medium onions, finely sliced
• 8 fluid ounces yoghurt

Recipe

• 1 heat half the butter or oil (2tbsp) in a large, heavy pan, then add the lentils and stir over a medium heat for a couple of minutes.
• 2 add the water, bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• 3 add the rice, cumin and allspice, then return to the boil and mix well.
• 4 reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils and rice are tender and all the liquid has been absorbed (probably about 15-20 minutes). keep an eye on it - depending on the type of rice and lentils you use, you may need to add more water. when cooked, season to taste with salt and pepper.
• 5 meanwhile, heat the remaining butter or oil in a small frying pan, and fry the sliced onions until they are dark golden in colour, adding the garlic towards the end of the cooking.
• 6 when ready to serve, mix about three-quarters of the fried onion into the rice and lentil mixture, then transfer the mixture into a large serving dish. pour the yoghurt on top, and garnish with the remaining fried onion. serve immediately.