This Mediterranean-inspired lentil salad recipe is straightforward to make and bursting with summer time taste! Chilly and refreshing, it’s made with easy components in simply half-hour. Vegan and Gluten-free.
Why You’ll Love This
Fast & straightforward! A 30-minute recipe with easy, healthful components.
Extremely nutritious. Vegan, gluten-free, and stuffed with vitamin-rich greens and herbs.
A refreshing, colourful summer time salad! Excellent for lunches on-the-go or for social gatherings.
Cherry tomatoes: Or sub-grape tomatoes, diced vine-ripened tomatoes, or heirloom tomatoes.
Cucumber: English cucumber, or substitute Turkish or Persian cucumbers. Add a cooling, refreshing crunch. Skinny-skinned cucumbers work greatest right here—no must peel them!
Bell pepper: Yellow or purple bell pepper, for further vitamin C, a pop of shade and crunch issue!
Purple onionand contemporary garlic: For that scrumptious texture and punchy “chunk” – be certain it is vitally finely diced.
Recent herbs: We used flat-leaf parsley and contemporary mint, however contemporary basil, dill or cilantro can be nice substitutes!
Further virgin olive oil: To present the salad richness and polyphenols.
Recent lemon: We use the lemon zest and the juice right here for further brightness.
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper and cumin. We maintain it easy right here, however see the recipe notes for some non-compulsory additions (sumac, feta cheese, and many others.).
Lentil Salad directions
Step 1: Prepare dinner lentils. In a medium saucepan, add lentils and three cups water, carry to a boil. Decrease to simmer, cowl, and prepare dinner till tender. Test at quarter-hour, then each couple of minutes. Drain, then soak in chilly water.
Step 2: Prep contemporary veggies and herbs. Whereas lentils prepare dinner, prep cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, mint, and parsley. Place in a big bowl and add lentils when performed.
Step 3: Add seasoning. Grate garlic over the bowl, then add lemon zest and juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and cumin. Toss to mix. Style and modify for salt and lemon.
Tip: Because the salad sits, the lentils could take in the salt and lemon, so add extra as wanted. That is particularly necessary if prepping prematurely!
Serving recommendations
Function is or over a mattress of dressed child arugula. Function a aspect dish or as a vegan predominant. Add feta cheese for those who like. Pair with this Gazpacho, selfmade Manoush bread or Pita bread!
Storage
Vegan lentil Salad will last as long as 4 days in an hermetic container within the fridge. I don’t advocate freezing.
Chef’s Suggestions
Making-ahead. You’ll be able to meal prep the entire salad as much as a day forward for an occasion, however toss within the contemporary herbs proper earlier than serving.
Regulate salt and lemon to style as soon as extra proper earlier than serving as lentils can take in the salt.
Prepare dinner the lentils to al dente in order that they don’t disintegrate within the salad.
FAQS
Are lentils wholesome?
Lentils are stuffed with plant-based protein and fiber, so sure, we predict they’re one of many healthiest issues you possibly can eat!
What do lentils pair with?
Lentils like to be paired with Mediterranean flavors like olive oil, contemporary herbs, and lemon and Center Japanese spices like cumin, coriander, and sumac.
Place lentils in a medium pot with 4 cups water and produce to a boil, decrease to a simmer, cowl and prepare dinner till al dente. Test at quarter-hour, then verify each couple of minutes. Drain, soak in chilly water.
Whereas the lentils are cooking, prep the cucumbers, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, mint and parsley and place in a big bowl.
Add the drained, cooled lentils to the bowl.
Grate the garlic over the bowl, add the lemon zest, olive oil, salt, pepper and cumin and contemporary lemon juice. Give a superb stir to mix nicely. Regulate salt and lemon to style. Because the salad sits, the lentils could take in the salt and lemon, so add extra as necessary- particularly if making this ahead- at all times style earlier than serving.
Retailer in an hermetic container the fridge for as much as 4 days.
Function is or over a mattress of dressed child arugula; add feta cheese for those who like. Get pleasure from!
