This basic lentil salad recipe options a few of my favourite Mediterranean flavors, together with cherry tomatoes, roasted purple peppers, Kalamata olives, and loads of contemporary parsley in a zippy lemon dressing. The feel is an irresistible mixture of tender, crisp and chewy.
I like to preserve this hearty lentil salad within the fridge for a lightweight meal, wholesome aspect dish, or ready-to-grab snack. Carry it to your get-togethers and picnics for all to get pleasure from—this recipe is dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, egg-free and nut-free! I guess your pals will ask for the recipe.
Lentil Salad Serving Solutions
This lentil salad can spherical out any meal with a wholesome dose of taste, fiber and plant-based protein. Listed here are only a few recipes to serve it with:
You possibly can change up your servings by including contemporary leafy greens and a drizzle of olive oil. Crumbled feta or goat cheese on high is sweet, too.
Lentil Choices
This salad is designed for traditional brownish-green lentils, the commonest and inexpensive selection. For those who comply with the recipe’s steerage, they’ll prove completely—tender, not mushy. Listed here are some extra choices.
Substitute pre-cooked lentils
You’ll want three cups, about two 15-ounce cans.
Black beluga lentils
These lentils are a reasonably darkish shade. They’re smaller in measurement and a bit extra agency in texture. For those who select this kind, set the timer for 16 minutes.
French (Puy) inexperienced lentils
Often known as Le Puy lentils, these darkish inexperienced lentils are additionally a bit firmer in texture. Set the timer for 18 minutes for these.
Notice: I don’t advocate purple lentils for this recipe. They’re too mushy.
Extra Lentil Salads to Take pleasure in
For those who like this basic lentil salad, take a look at these enjoyable alternate options. Listed here are extra bean salads on the weblog.
Please let me know the way your lentil salad seems within the feedback! I really like listening to from you and hope this turns into a brand new staple recipe in your kitchen.
Lentil Salad
This basic lentil salad recipe is the proper aspect dish! It’s straightforward to make with easy elements like cherry tomatoes, lemon and parsley. Recipe yields about 5 cups of salad, sufficient for 4 hearty parts.
- Fill a medium-to-large saucepan with water, leaving a number of inches of room on the high. Carry it to a boil over excessive warmth.
- In the meantime, type by your lentils for particles. Then, rinse your lentils beneath working water till the water runs clear. Put aside.
- As soon as the water is boiling, add the rinsed lentils and ½ teaspoon of the salt. Set the timer for 13 minutes. Scale back the warmth as essential to forestall overflow and to take care of a vigorous simmer. As soon as your timer has gone off, use a fork to scoop out just a few lentils and take a look at for doneness (cautious, they’re scorching). Your lentils are completed when they’re pleasantly tender all through (not mushy or falling aside) and style properly earthy (undercooked lentils are inclined to style considerably metallic). In case your lentils aren’t absolutely cooked but, retest each 1 to 2 minutes till they’re. As soon as cooked, instantly pressure off all the surplus water. Pour the lentils again into your pot to chill.
- In the meantime, in a medium serving bowl, mix all of the remaining elements (the chopped peppers, tomatoes, olives, parsley, inexperienced onions, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and several other twists of black pepper).
- As soon as the lentils are principally cool, add them to the bowl and stir till the salad is nicely mixed. Season with the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt (extra if desired) and pepper, to style. Leftovers will preserve nicely for as much as 5 days, coated within the fridge.
Notes
Lentil choices: If you want to make use of pre-cooked lentils, you’ll need 3 cups. This salad is designed for “commonplace” lentils, that are brownish-green in shade and properly tender as soon as cooked. Different choices embody black beluga lentils (set the timer for 16 minutes) or French inexperienced lentils (set the timer for 18 minutes). Don’t use purple lentils right here—they’re too mushy.
Diet
The knowledge proven is an estimate offered by a web based vitamin calculator. It shouldn’t be thought of an alternative to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation. See our full vitamin disclosure right here.
