Peel the onions and cut them in half from top to bottom.

Place the halved onion on the side and cut into thin stripes

Heat the oil in a pan.

Carmelize the onions over low heat until well browned but not burned. Don't rush the procces it will take around 25 - 30 minutes.

Prepare the rice igridiants.

Heat the oil in a pot.

Add the rice and stir fry it for two minutes on high heat. Be careful not to burn it.

Add the boiling water. Be careful, and the water may bubble and splash! When the bubbling calms down, give the rice a good stir.

Add the salt and stir well. If there are some clamps of rice, break them with the spoon.

Cover the pot with a lid.

Transfer the pot to the lowest heat on the stove.

Cook the rice for 15 minutes. After 7 minutes of cooking, give the rice a good stir.

After 15 minutes, check the rice. If it's still a bit hard, give it an additional 2 minutes of cooking and recheck.

If the rice feels soft, even if it is not cooked completly , close the heat and let the rice stand for 5 - 10 minutes. the steam in the pot will finish the cooking procces. keep the lid closed.

After the rice had rested, fluff it with a fork.

Sort the lentils and wash them under running water. Strain the lentils and place them in a pot.

Add water to the pot until they cover the lentils plus 2 centimiters.

Being the water to boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid.

Cook the lentils for 20 - 25 minutes until the lentils are soft but not mushy. If the pot runs out of water before the lentils are soft add a little boiling water and keep cooking until soft.

Place the rice in a large bowl or a pot.

Strain the lentils from any access water and add them to the bowl.

Add the carmelized onions.

Season with cumin and grounded black pepper and mix well.

Taste and fix seasoning.