Bulgur Mejadra (Mjaddarat el Burgul)

For many Palestinians and Arabs around the world, the answer to the question ‘What is your ultimate comfort food?’ is mejadra. It’s the food a lot of kids grow up on and, for Sami, it will always take him straight back home. Like so many comfort foods, it’s a humble dish: lentils, spices, and then a grain in the form of rice, most typically, or the bulgur or freekeh we’ve suggested here. In terms of what makes it so addictive, though, the fried onions are the secret weapon.

Serve this warm or at room temperature with some yoghurt (either plain or with some diced cucumber and shredded mint stirred through) alongside. If you have some pomegranate seeds, these look lovely sprinkled on top.

Getting ahead: The bulgur and lentils keep well in the fridge for a couple of days, ready to be warmed through or brought back to room temperature before eating. The onions can also be prepared ahead of time – stored in a sealed container at room temperature – but keep these apart from the rest of the dish until ready to serve.