Mujadara Baked Brown Rice Casserole Recipe - Vegan in the Freezer (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze lentils and rice? ›

Store: You can store any leftover mujadara in an airtight container in the fridge for between 3-4 days. Freeze: Lentils and rice are very freezer-friendly. Simply transfer leftovers to freezer-safe container/s and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Mujaddara is the Arabic word for "pockmarked"; the lentils among the rice resemble pockmarks. The first recorded recipe for mujaddara appears in Kitab al-Tabikh, a cookbook compiled in 1226 by al-Baghdadi in Iraq. Containing rice, lentils, and meat, it was served this way during celebrations.

This meal is a complete protein, so you can enjoy it as a main dish. To round out the meal I suggest topping with the caramelized onions, toasted almonds (or pine nuts), chopped fresh cilantro, a dollop of plain unsweet coconut yogurt, and a crisp salad on the side.

Yes, it works. According to America's Test Kitchen's New Cooking School Cookbook, “Cooked long-grain white and brown rice can be frozen [in a zipper-lock bag in the freezer]. Simply spread the cooked rice on a rimmed baking sheet and let it cool completely.

Any whole grain can be cooked and frozen: white or brown rice, barley, farro, wheat berries, rye berries, or buckwheat. Even smaller grains like quinoa or millet do well.

Lentils are a nutritional powerhouse, because apart from being high in protein and fibre while being low in fat, they are also essential for weight loss, heart health, low cholesterol and many other nutritional benefits.

What country does Mujadara come from? Lentils and rice are staple foods throughout the Middle East and the Arab world. The first written recipe for Mujaddara was found in an Iraqi cookbook called Kitab al-Tabikh and written in 1226.

Lentil protein, like other pulse proteins, is a good source of the essential amino acids, particularly leucine, lysine, threonine, and phenylalanine, but is deficient in the sulfur-containing essential amino acids methionine and cysteine (Table 11.1).

Eating lentils can cause gas and bloating because they're high in fiber that your body is unable to break down. While fiber plays a large role in supporting and regulating your digestive system and bowel movements, it can also produce bacteria that leads to cramping and gas pains.

Lentils. Lentils have more protein than any other bean (including chickpeas, white beans, and black beans). One cup contains a hefty 18 grams of protein, while the same amount of chickpeas has 14 grams.

Is Mujadara a good source of protein? ›

Considering that mujadara is made with protein- and fiber-packed lentils as its base, this is a very healthy legume dish. Plant-based protein, defined! Mujadara with rice is healthy because the rice is paired with the lentils. Mujadara without rice, using bulgur instead, results in even higher nutritional value.

Lentils can be combined with other ingredients like rice to form a “complete protein” with a full complement of amino acids.

Foods that have all 9 essential amino acids are called “complete” proteins. Foods that lack one or more essential amino acids are called “incomplete”. Lentils and rice are both “incomplete” proteins, but pairing them together will form a “complete” protein.

Cooked lentils and lentil puree can be frozen and used within three months, or refrigerated for up to one week. Be sure that they are sealed tight in air-tight containers or plastic bags to prevent freezer burn. Is there a cooking time difference between split and whole lentils? Yes there is.

Soups and stews are easy-to-make freezer meals. Once prepared, these entrees can be served with rice or pasta and additional vegetables or fruits to make a full meal. You also can cook batches of lentils, peas or chickpeas and freeze them in single-serving or meal-size portions.

You can—rinse and drain two cans of lentils and stir them into the cooked rice. Want to substitute another variety of lentil? Your best bet would be to cook it separately and stir it into the cooked rice.

For any leftover rice and lentils cool quickly and refrigerate. Rice can be reheated once (reheat thoroughly until it is piping hot) and should not be kept longer than two days. Rice and lentils are two of my store cupboard essentials.