Instant Pot Mujadara

Instant Pot Mujadara

healthy vegetarian dish

Recipe by
Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 15m
Cook Time: 21m
Total Time: 31m
Servings: 5
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (13 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

Optional garnishes:

Nutritional Information

429
сalories
14,8g
fat
63,1g
carbohydrates
14,4g
protein
0mg
cholesterol
714,7mg
sodium
Instant Pot Mujadara

Recipe Description

I love this Instant Pot Mujadara as it is simple and vegetarian and it is one of my favorite Middle Eastern dishes. Mujadara is a family favorite in my house. It consists of cooked lentils and rice, caramelized onions, herbs and yogurt. It’s a delicious vegetarian main dish! This version calls for brown rice instead of white as it cooks in the same amount of time as lentils in the Instant Pot. 

In my opinion, the best thing about mujadara is that you can go wild with the garnishes. Use a selection of the following: caramelized shallot or onion, diced tomato, simple roasted veggies, diced avocado, sprouts or greens, sliced cucumber, pine nuts, a drizzle of olive oil, yogurt, vegan yogurt, zhoug yogurt, lemon wedges, fresh parsley, Aleppo chili flakes, roasted root vegetables, shredded kale, carrots, or cabbage or beets! I love a combination of tomatoes, avocado, caramelized shallots, sprouts, a spoonful of yogurt or zhoug yogurt, or tahini sauce – and fresh parsley or mint.

To make Instant Pot Mujadara, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Instant Pot Mujadara

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Soak lentils

    10 min
    Step 1 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    Place 1 cup of brown lentils in a bowl and cover with hot or boiling water. Let the lentils soak until it is time to add to the Instant Pot.

  2. 2

    Cook shallots

    5 min
    Step 2 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    Set the Instant Pot to the saute function. Add 1 ½ tablespoons and saute the shallots for 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the onions are tender and starting to caramelize.

  3. 3

    Remove half the onions

    Step 3 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    Remove half of the onions and set aside to use as topping.

  4. 4

    Add garlic and spices

    3 min
    Step 4 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    Add 4 chopped cloves of garlic and saute until fragrant. Add 2 teaspoons of cumin, 1 teaspoon of coriander, 1 teaspoon of allspice, ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ a teaspoon of turmeric, if using, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 ½ teaspoons of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon of dried mint or parsley, and lemon zest from one small lemon.

  5. 5

    Add water, lentils, and rice

    2 min
    Step 5 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    Add 3 cups of water and stir well. Drain the soaked lentils and add them along with the rinsed rice to the Instant Pot. Stir well.

  6. 6

    Cook

    21 min
    Step 6 - Instant Pot MujadaraStep 6 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    Cover the Instant Pot and set to high pressure. Cook for 11 minutes before naturally releasing for a minimum 10 minutes.

  7. 7

    Prepare garnishes

    5 min
    Step 7 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    As the mixture cooks, prepare the garnishes.

  8. 8

    Serve

    Step 8 - Instant Pot Mujadara

    Gently fluff the mujadara with a fork before serving. Divide the mixture between bowls. Drizzle with olive oil and garnishes.

This Instant Pot Mujadara is a delicious meat-free dish inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine. Try it soon and please come back and leave a review with your thoughts

About the author

Nina Cole

Nina dreams of gender equality and for women all over the world to feel empowered and enjoy the same freedom she has. She’s a careful consumer, believing that by being more conscious about the way we live we can make the world a better place! Already a vegetarian, she uses animal products sparingly and tries to produce as little waste as possible. Most of her recipes are vegan as a result!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (13 reviews)
Xander87
May 9, 2025
Verified

Delicious!

Flora Smith
December 30, 2024
Verified

OMG, this Instant Pot Mujadara is a total win! So easy and delish! Made it for my hubby last week, and he couldn’t stop raving! I piled on the toppings—avocado and caramelized onions, wow! Proud moment, for sure.

Laura Smith
January 20, 2024
Verified

OMG, this Instant Pot Mujadara is out of this world! 🤯 I whipped it up for a small dinner party, and everyone was blown away! 🙌 It's so easy to make and tastes fantastic! I went crazy with toppings - avocado and caramelized onions for the win! 🍽️🙌

Yasmin
December 20, 2023
Verified

Superb dish! My family devours it every time. I made mujadarra for a family gathering and everyone asked for the recipe. The simplicity combined with rich flavors is just perfect.

Bobby
October 14, 2023
Verified

Dude, this Instant Pot Mujadara is bomb! It's super easy and my kids just gobble it up. Love adding avocado and roasted veggies. Total win for family dinners!

Beatriz Gomez
October 10, 2023
Verified

Delicioso!

Xander
October 1, 2023
Verified

Superb!

Zach
September 22, 2022
Verified

Superb!

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