Middle Eastern Rice (Mejadra)

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp / 25 ml olive oil
• 2 tsp / 10 ml cumin seeds (or 1 tsp ground cumin)
• 1 1/2 tbsp / 20 ml coriander seeds (or 1.5 tsp ground coriander)
• 1 cup / 250 ml basmati rice
• 1 1/4 cups / 315 ml water
• 15-ounce (400 g) can brown lentils, drained
• 1/2 tsp / 2 ml turmeric
• 1 1/2 tsp / 7 ml ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp / 5 ml sugar
• 1 tsp / 5 ml salt
• black pepper, to taste