Cooking Challenge Week 20 - Rice - Mujaddara

This is a dish that I don't make often, but when I do, I wonder why I don't make it more.  It's easy, inexpensive, relatively healthy (to anyone who doesn't think carbs are evil) and, most importantly, delicious.

The only downside?  It's hard to photograph well because it's a pile of greenish-brown mush.  Don't let it fool you.  It's super tasty.  I mean, look at those onions!

Not being familiar with much in the way of Middle Eastern Cuisine of any stripe, I was intrigued when I stumbled across the recipe while looking for something else--doesn't that seem like the best way to find new things, sometimes?--and, loving lentils like I do, had to try it.

One of the things I like so much about allrecipes is the sheer volume of users leaving ratings and reviews--so I knew, heading into it, to add some spices that weren't called for in the recipe.  Some swear by cumin, others by cinnamon, yet more by coriander.  Trusty Wikipedia says cumin, coriander, or mint.  I haven't tried mint yet, but I do like it in my meatballs...

So, I follow the recipe in all particulars except that I add 1 tsp of cumin and 1/2 tsp of cinnamon.  Usually.  This time I'm actually out of cumin (gasp! the horror!) so I added 1 1/2 tsp of my home-ground garam masala, which includes those two, plus a little coriander, clove, and black pepper.  Sure, it's an Indian spice blend, but you won't tell, will you?  It gets the job done, quite well, in fact.