Horaq osbao or rokak o adas is a traditional Levantine recipe that features the earthy notes of lentils and homemade pasta beautifully brightened by a combination of herbs and spices. Add a topping of crunchy fried pita chips, some lemon wedges and a sprinkle of sumac and you’re in for a feast .

The name  roakak o adas literally means pasta strips and lentils (that one is easy to understand) but horaq osbao means the one who burnt his finger! I have no explanation for that one! only a smile at some of the names old recipes get.

Recipes like this one actually date back to the time when peasants and poor people needed to create healthy hearty recipes that were not too expensive.When it comes to using a protein source instead of meat in vegetarian Middle Eastern recipes, beans and legumes take center stage appearing in recipes like  Mujadara, pumpkin and lentil stew and bessara. The vegan substitutions do not stop there, the pasta used in this recipe is simply a combination of flour and water, no eggs or oil are added to create the pasta strips. Nonetheless, he result is a dish that’s hearty, comforting and full of flavor. You definitely do not miss the meat or eggs in this one.

 

Lentils and pasta (horraq osbao)

• 2 cups lentils

• 8-10 cups water

• 1 teaspoon all spice

• 1 teaspoon dried mint

• 1 teaspoon sumac

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 1 teaspoon dried coriander

• 1 teaspoon cardamom

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 4 cloves garlic chopped

• 1 cup parsley chopped

• 1/2 cup Olive oil

• Juice of 1 lemon

For the dough

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• 1/3 cup water

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

For the topping

Pita bread cut into bite sized pieces

lemon wedges

Sumac

 

Prepare the dough

1.Add the salt and baking powder to the flour, whisk to combine

2.Add the water slowly and knead till you get a firm dough (2- 4 minutes)

3.Cover the dough with a kitchen towel &allow it to rest for 15 min

4.Roll out the dough till it is 2-3 mm in thickness Cut the dough into strips that are 1 cm wide and 2-3 cm long.

5.Generously dust with flour and toss to coat the strips with flour

Cook the lentils

1.In a pot place the lentil and water and cook over medium low heat till the lentils are cooked through (20-30 minutes)

2. Add the all spice, & herbs

3.Fry the bread in the olive oil until it is golden brown, reserve the oil.

4.Using the same oil , sauté the garlic & parsley for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.

5.Add the oil with the garlic and parsley to the cooking pot

6.Add the dough strips to the lentils and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7.Turn off the heat and ladle into your serving dish