First, wash and rinse the brown lentils and bulgur thoroughly under cold water. This step is crucial as it helps remove any impurities and excess starch.
In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, combine the rinsed lentils with water. Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid and let it simmer for 10 minutes, or until the lentils are nearly cooked.
Now, add the rinsed bulgur to the pot along with ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together and bring it back to a boil.
Cover the pot again and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let it cook for about 15 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. After that, remove it from the heat and let it sit covered for another 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and sliced onions. Cook while stirring regularly until the onions turn golden. If your skillet is small, you may need to do this in batches to caramelize them evenly.
Once the onions are beautifully caramelized, stir most of them into the mujadara, reserving some for topping. For an extra treat, sauté additional onions with some flour or corn starch until crispy.
Finally, serve the mujadara warm, topped with the caramelized or crispy onions. Enjoy the rich flavors and comforting texture!