This 30-minute vegan Mediterranean rice and lentils recipe is made with cooked rice, canned lentils and za’atar seasoning for a fast, simple and flavourful dish.
Introduction
Love Mediterranean flavours? Then you definately’ll love this 30-minute flavour-packed rice and lentil recipe!
This tasty however easy dish is an effective way to make use of up leftover rice, is tremendous simple to make and scrumptious by itself for a fast and wholesome meal, or paired with a principal dish or different facet.
This recipe could be loved sizzling but it surely’s additionally scrumptious served as a chilly lentil salad and it tastes even higher the subsequent day.
It really works nicely for BBQ’s and summer time get-togethers, particularly since you may make it advance so that you’re all able to go.
Not solely is it scrumptious, however with elements like lentils, spinach and bell pepper, it’s very nutritious too! Take pleasure in these Mediterranean-inspired rice and lentils for simple meal or facet dish any evening of the week.
Components & Substitutions
An entire listing of elements with quantities and full directions is situated within the printable recipe card beneath. This part covers ingredient and substitution concerns.
- Olive Oil: Will be substituted with avocado oil, or for an oil-free recipe, you should use water or broth.
- Bell Pepper: Any color of bell pepper is appropriate (pink, inexperienced, orange, and so forth.).
- Onion: White or yellow onion works.
- Spinach: Use contemporary spinach, child spinach or substitute it with kale.
- Cooked Rice: Any cooked white or brown rice works. I like to make use of rice that’s been saved within the fridge in a single day for the very best “fried” rice texture. You might additionally use one other grain like quinoa or farro.
- Lentils: You need to use 1 15 oz can of lentils or about 1.5 cups of cooked inexperienced or brown lentils. You’ll be able to swap the lentils for chickpeas or white beans.
- Za’atar Seasoning: Za’atar is a Center Easter spice combine that features thyme, oregano, sesame, marjoram, cumin and coriander. It’s available on-line or in well-stoked grocery shops.
- Sumac: Optionally available extra seasoning (za’atar already incorporates sumac so be at liberty to skip the extra flavouring).
- Olives: I really like kalamata olives right here however sliced black olives would additionally work. In case you don’t like olives, you’ll be able to depart them out.
Variations & Additions
- Roasted Greens: Add roasted bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant, and cherry tomatoes for further Mediterranean flavors and a burst of shade.
- Artichoke Hearts: Incorporate marinated or grilled artichoke hearts for a tangy and briny ingredient.
- Toasted Pine Nuts: Sprinkle toasted pine nuts, pistachios or walnuts over the dish to offer crunch and nutty taste.
- Contemporary Herbs: Add a beneficiant quantity of contemporary chopped herbs like parsley, basil, and oregano for an fragrant contact.
- Capers: These add a novel briny and tangy taste that enhances Mediterranean dishes nicely.
- Cucumber: Cube cucumber and blend it in for a refreshing crunch and coolness.
- Solar-Dried Tomatoes: Use chopped sun-dried tomatoes to accentuate the tomato taste and add a chewy texture.
- Vegan Feta Cheese: Crumble some vegan feta cheese on high when serving.
- Lemon Zest: Grate some lemon zest over the dish so as to add a brilliant and citrusy aroma.
- Roasted Garlic: Combine in some roasted garlic cloves for a mellow and barely candy taste.
- Spices and Seasonings: Experiment with spices like cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, or sumac to reinforce the Mediterranean profile.
- Quinoa or Bulgur: As a substitute of rice, use quinoa or bulgur for a distinct texture and added protein.
- Grilled Tofu or Tempeh: Serve with baked tofu or tempeh for further protein.
- Pomegranate Seeds: Sprinkle pomegranate seeds over the dish for a candy, tangy crunch.
- Tahini or Hummus: Serve with a drizzle of tahini, tahini sauce, and/or dollop of your favorite hummus or tzatziki.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth.
Add the onion and bell peppers, season with salt and pepper, and prepare dinner till aromatic and softened, about 2-3 minutes.
Fast Observe: In case you choose to prepare dinner your individual lentils reasonably than use canned, prepare dinner them earlier than you begin the recipe.
You’ll want 15-20 minutes to prepare dinner brown or inexperienced lentils and also you need about 1.5-2 cups cooked.
Step 2: Add the chopped spinach, stir and prepare dinner for an additional 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the cooked rice, lentils and spices, stir nicely and prepare dinner for a couple of minutes till the rice is heated via.
Fast Tip: After stirring within the rice, unfold the combination evenly within the pan and let it sit for a couple of minutes with out stirring to permit to brown barely on the underside.
Step 4: Stir within the kalamata olives. In case you don’t like olives, go forward and skip this step! I like kalamata right here however you can too use black olives.
Different tangy elements that might work listed below are capers, marinated artichoke hearts or sun-dried tomatoes.
Season with salt, pepper and a squeeze of contemporary lemon juice and luxuriate in!
Serving Suggestions
- This dish can work as a standalone principal dish or a facet dish.
- Serve by itself or with contemporary pita or naan and hummus.
- Strive it added to a wrap with hummus, tomato and contemporary spinach.
- The combination could be added to salads and bowls with different veggies & a protein.
- Serve with this lemon roasted cauliflower.
- Serve sizzling straight from the pan or chill within the fridge to function a chilly lentil salad.
- Pairs nicely with a light-weight inexperienced salad or soup like this lemon lentil soup or Greek lemon soup.
FAQs
You’ll be able to however I inexperienced or brown lentils work quite a bit higher right here. Pink lentils are mushier when cooked so the ultimate dish with have a distinct texture. Inexperienced and brown lentils maintain their form higher so are higher suited to a recipe like this.
You might additionally use French (puy) lentils or black lentils.
In case you’re on the lookout for pink lentil recipes, strive my Pink Lentil Pasta Sauce, Coconut Pink Lentil Dahl or Pink Lentil Cauliflower Curry.
Any cooked brown rice or white long-grain rice works. For finest outcomes, use cooked rice that’s been saved within the fridge in a single day. You may as well substitute one thing like quinoa, farro or bulgur.
Za’atar is an excellent yummy, versatile seasoning you should use so some ways, so undoubtedly have a look for it in the event you can!
In case you can’t discover any or don’t have any readily available, you’ll be able to substitute the two tsp of za’atar with 1 tsp every dried oregano, thyme, sesame seeds and salt.
You might additionally use 2 tsp of dried combined herbs and a pinch of salt and lemon.
Observe that za’atar does already include sumac so that you don’t essentially have so as to add that along with the za’atar.
Storing Directions
- Will be made as much as 5 days prematurely so works nicely for meal prep.
- Will be loved chilly or reheated within the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop.
- Let cool utterly earlier than storing
- Retailer in a sealed container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
- Not appropriate for freezing.
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Description
This Mediterranean-inspired fried rice and lentil dish is filled with diet and makes the proper meal prep dish. It’s additionally stuffed with flavour and simple to make with just some elements!
- Warmth Oil: Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet over medium warmth.
- Prepare dinner Onion & Pepper: Add the onion and bell pepper, season with salt and pepper, prepare dinner till aromatic and starting to brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Spinach: Stir within the chopped spinach and prepare dinner for an additional 2 minutes,
- Add Rice, Lentil & Seasoning: Add the cooked rice, lentils and za’atar, stir to mix and prepare dinner till rice is sizzling, permitting to sit down for 2-3 minutes at a time to permit it to brown and crisp.
- Add Olives: Stir within the kalamata olives and take away from warmth.
- Season and Serve: Season with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired.
Notes
The fried rice could be stored in an hermetic container within the fridge as much as 5 days. Not appropriate for freezing.
Vitamin
- Serving Measurement: 1/4 of recipe
- Energy: 286
- Sodium: 273 mg
- Fats: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 9 g
- Protein: 11 g
Key phrases: rice and lentils, mediterranean rice and lentils
Initially revealed August 4, 2021.
