Careme

Ingredients

• La Preferida® Lentils Dry Beans

  1/2 cup, rinsed and picked over $1.79
• Kroger® Enriched Long Grain White Rice

  1/3 cup, rinsed $1.79
• Jumbo Yellow Onions

  1 medium, thinly sliced $0.99
• Garlic

  2 cloves, minced $0.79
• Cucumber

  1 small or 1/2 large, diced $0.89
• Fresh Roma Tomato

  1 medium, diced $1.49
• Parsley

  1/3 cup chopped $1.29
• Fresh Organic Lemon - Each

  1 lemon, juiced, divided $1.29
• Olive oil

  3 tablespoons, divided
• Ground cumin

  1 teaspoon
• Ground coriander

  1/2 teaspoon
• Ground cinnamon

  1/8 teaspoon
• Kosher salt

  3/4 teaspoon, plus more to taste
• Black pepper

  to taste
• Water or low-sodium broth

  2 cups

Instructions

1. Thinly slice the onion, mince the garlic, rinse the lentils and rice separately, and dice the cucumber and tomato; toss the cucumber, tomato, parsley, half the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, a pinch of salt, and black pepper in a bowl and set aside.
2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the sliced onion and a pinch of salt, and cook 8–10 minutes, stirring often, until golden at the edges; remove about one-third of the onions to a plate for topping.
3. Stir the garlic, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and rinsed lentils into the saucepan with the remaining onions and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
4. Add 2 cups water or low-sodium broth, bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, until the lentils are starting to soften but are not mushy.
5. Stir in the rinsed rice and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 16–18 minutes, until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed; if the pot looks dry before the rice is done, add a splash of water.
6. Turn off the heat and let the covered pot rest for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork and season with the remaining lemon juice, more salt, and black pepper to taste.
7. Spoon the lentil-rice mixture into shallow bowls, top with the reserved browned onions, and serve the cucumber-tomato salad alongside or over the top for a cool, crisp finish.