Mujadara with Lentils and Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup wide lentils
• 2 cups Indian rice
• Dry onion
• Seven-spice blend
• Olive oil
• Vegetable oil

Method

1. Wash the lentils, then put them in a pot with water to cook.
2. Meanwhile, slice the onion and fry it in oil; use enough oil to cover the onion. Leave them over medium heat until the onion browns and cooks.
3. When the lentils are half-cooked, remove them from the heat. We want to maintain the lentil's firmness so the mujaddara doesn't become mushy... Drain it immediately so it does not finish cooking.
4. Put the lentils in a pot.
5. Add the washed, soaked, and drained rice on top of the lentils.
6. Add 1 1/2 to 2 cups of water for each cup of rice used; you can use some of the lentil cooking water.
7. Sprinkle the seven-spice blend and salt and stir.
8. Turn the heat on under the pot and let them come to a boil.
9. Immediately after boiling, add the fried onions drained of oil on top... along with 3 tablespoons of the onion oil, and stir.
10. Cover the pot and leave it over low heat until the mujaddara is cooked.
11. Finally, drizzle olive oil over the top so the lentils shine, stir, and turn off the heat.
12. Spoon the lentil and rice mujaddara onto plates and garnish with fried onions.