Mujudarrah

1 cup brown lentils ($0.50)
1 1/2 cup regular rice ($0.75)
1 large onion ($0.50)
1/2 cup vegetable oil ($0.50)
5 cups water (pennies)
salt to taste (pennies)

Simmer lentils in water until almost cooked (skins will split when you blow on them). Add rice, bring to a simmer. Drop heat very low and cover. Cook until water is gone and rice is cooked (you might have to go below the top layer of rice to test it).

Slice onion very thin. Cook on high in oil until almost burnt. Mix into rice mixture and let sit for a few minutes.

Serve with plain yogurt ($2.00) or a cabbage salad (see below)

1/2 head green cabbage, shredded ($0.75)
1 large onion ($0.50)
1 large tomato, diced ($0.50)
1 peeled and seeded cucumber, diced ($0.50)
lemon juice (pennies)
olive oil ($0.50)
salt and pepper (pennies)
dried mint leaves, crushed, or red pepper flake (pennies)

Mix together and serve on top of mujudarrah.

This is what the wasouf household calls "Syrian poverty food". Don't knock it till you try it...it rawks!

Serves about 8, and these are large servings.

Per serving, with yogurt - $0.53/serving
With salad - $0.63/serving