Kushari Recipe - Vegetarian Dish from Democratic Republic of Congo

Ingredients

• 1 lb (454 g) of lentils (brown or black)
• 1-2 cups of rice
• 1-2 cups of elbow macaroni (optional)
• 1 cup of vegetable oil (evenly divided into two portions)
• 1 clove of garlic , crushed (optional)
• 1 hot chili pepper , cleaned and chopped (optional)
• 3-4 ripe tomatoes , chopped
• 0.5 cup of water
• 2 tbsp of vinegar
• salt (to taste)
• one onion , cut in rings