This basic lentil salad recipe options a few of my favourite Mediterranean flavors, together with cherry tomatoes, roasted pink 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 hold this hearty lentil salad within the fridge for a lightweight meal, wholesome facet dish, or ready-to-grab snack. Deliver 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 folks will ask for the recipe.
Lentil Salad Serving Ideas
This lentil salad can spherical out any meal with a wholesome dose of taste, fiber and plant-based protein. Listed here are just some 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 reasonably priced selection. When you comply with the recipe’s steering, 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 coloration. They’re smaller in dimension and a bit extra agency in texture. When you select this sort, set the timer for 16 minutes.
French (Puy) inexperienced lentils
Also referred to as Le Puy lentils, these darkish inexperienced lentils are additionally a bit firmer in texture. Set the timer for 18 minutes for these.
Word: I don’t suggest pink lentils for this recipe. They’re too mushy.
Extra Lentil Salads to Get pleasure from
When you like this basic lentil salad, try these enjoyable alternate options. Listed here are extra bean salads on the weblog.
Please let me understand how your lentil salad seems within the feedback! I 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 right facet 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. Deliver it to a boil over excessive warmth.
- In the meantime, kind by means of your lentils for particles. Then, rinse your lentils below 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. Cut back the warmth as mandatory to forestall overflow and to keep up 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 executed 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 a number of other twists of black pepper).
- As soon as the lentils are principally cool, add them to the bowl and stir till the salad is properly mixed. Season with the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt (extra if desired) and pepper, to style. Leftovers will hold properly for as much as 5 days, coated within the fridge.
Notes
Lentil choices: If you want to make use of pre-cooked lentils, you will have 3 cups. This salad is designed for “customary” lentils, that are brownish-green in coloration 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 pink lentils right here—they’re too mushy.
Diet
The data proven is an estimate supplied by a web based vitamin calculator. It shouldn’t be thought-about an alternative choice to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation. See our full vitamin disclosure right here.
