Curried Cauliflower Rice With Lentils Crispy Shallot Mujadara Inspired Minimalist Baker

What is Mujadara?

Mujadara is a satisfying vegetarian dish with Middle Eastern and Arab influences. It’s traditionally made with rice, lentils, and caramelized onions, making it incredibly affordable and satisfying (and naturally plant-based!). The spices can range in simplicity from just salt, pepper, and cumin to more complex flavors like cinnamon, lemon peel, and cayenne pepper. Learn more about mujadara’s origins here, and find a more traditional preparation of the dish here!

What Makes our Version Unique?

It’s not traditional and rather inspired by the concept! It’s made with cauliflower rice instead of rice to keep it grain-free. It’s made with way less oil (with options to make it completely oil-free!). The spices are simplified as we rely on cumin, coriander, and our go-to DIY Curry Powder. The shallots are crispy instead of soft to add more texture! We include optional dates at the end for a bit of sweet to balance out the salt.

To start, cook your lentils in vegetable broth so they get tender and flavorful but not mushy. Then prepare your shallots! To keep this recipe grain-free we opted to toss our shallots in chickpea flour and salt and use cauliflower rice instead of rice. To keep this recipe low/no oil, we include options for baking instead of pan-frying so the shallots still get nice and golden brown without the extra oil. If you’d prefer more tender vs. crispy shallot, simply pan sauté (opting out of the crispy coating) in a little oil or water over medium-low heat until golden brown and tender. Once your lentils and shallot are prepared, all that’s left to do is cook your cauliflower rice. Sauté with curry powder and cumin seed, the cooked lentils, and half of the crispy shallot, reserving the remaining shallot for serving! We hope you love this dish! It’s: Easy to makeFlavorfulComfortingCustomizableSatisfying& Incredibly delicious This would make the perfect dish for when you’re craving quick comfort. If you’re wondering what to pair it with, we’ve got you covered.