Lentil Pottage

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<?xml version= " 1.0 " standalone= " yes " encoding= " ISO-8859-1 " ?>

<!DOCTYPE mx2 SYSTEM " mx2.dtd " >

<mx2 source= " MasterCook 6.0 " date= " January 02, 2001 " >

<Summ>

<Nam>

Lentil Pottage (Mujaddara)

</Nam></Summ>

<RcpE name= " Lentil Pottage (Mujaddara) " author= " Habeeb Salloum and James

Peters " >

<Serv qty= " 4 " />

<PrpT elapsed= " 0:00 " />

<CatS>

<CatT>

Legumes

</CatT>

</CatS>

<IngR name= " lentils " unit= " cup " qty= " 1 " >

<IPrp>

rinsed

</IPrp>

</IngR>

<IngR name= " water " unit= " cups " qty= " 5 " ></IngR>

<IngR name= " olive oil " unit= " tablespoons " qty= " 6 " ></IngR>

<IngR name= " onions " unit= " large " qty= " 2 " >

<IPrp>

chopped

</IPrp>

</IngR>

<IngR name= " rice " unit= " cup " qty= " 1/4 " >

<IPrp>

rinsed

</IPrp>

</IngR>

<IngR name= " salt and pepper " >

<IPrp>

to taste

</IPrp>

</IngR>

<IngR name= " cumin " unit= " teaspoon " qty= " 1/2 " ></IngR>

<DirS>

<DirT>

In a saucepan, bring the lentils and water to a boil; then cover and cook over a

medium heat for 30 minutes.

</DirT>

<DirT>

In the meantime, heat the oil in a frying pan; then add the onions and saute

until they turn golden brown. Add the onions and their oil and the remaining

ingredients to the lentils; then cook for a further 20 minutes or until the

lentils and rice are tender but still slightly firm. Remove from the heat then

serve.

</DirT>

</DirS>

<Desc>

from Syria and Lebanon

</Desc>

<Natn>

Middle Eastern

</Natn>

<Srce>

From the Lands of Figs and Olives

</Srce>

<CpyR>

1997

</CpyR>

<Note>

In the Eastern Arab world, the most common dish made from lentils is

& quot;mujaddara, & quot; a pottage which has been popular since Biblical times.

According to tradition, mujaddara is the mess of pottage referred to in the

Biblical account of Esau & apos;s great hunger: for a dish of this pottage, he

sold his birthright as the first born to his twin brother Jacob. Perhaps this

Biblical story gave birth to an ancient saying, & quot;A hungry man would be

willing to sell his soul for dish of mujaddara. & quot; The pottage in the Bible

was probably made with red lentils, but other types of lentils can be used for

this dish. & #013; & #010; & #013; & #010;When the Arab immigrants came to North

America, they not only brought with them their love for mujaddara but also their

custom of not serving it to guests. Perhaps the few cents it costs to make this

dish made the immigrants think that it could not possible be good enough to

serve to visitors. It is.

</Note>

</RcpE></mx2>