Mazidra

This is a delicious vegan Middle Eastern dish that we love!  It takes 45 minutes to an hour to cook, but the hands-on time is still quite short.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 2 cups (1 bag) dried lentils
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon thyme

Directions:

Bring all ingredients to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 to 60 minutes, until lentils are tender and you have a nice, thick stew.

Serve over rice.

You may like a splash of balsamic vinegar added just before serving.  For a luxurious treat, caramelize some onions to go on top.

Some people also like to top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, black olives, fresh lemon juice, and/or fresh garlic.