This French Lentil Salad recipe is a flavourful mixture of recent substances which might be easy to organize in half-hour.
Desk of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The bottom of the dish is French inexperienced lentils, also referred to as Puy lentils, which maintain their form when cooked, making them excellent for salads.
The candy potatoes are tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted till caramelized so as to add a contact of sweetness to the salad.
The tangy fragrant dressing options shallot, white wine vinegar, garlic and Dijon for a zesty mixture that brings all the pieces collectively and enhances the earthy lentils and candy potatoes, and the recent herbs add a pop of freshness to the salad.
Finely, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds and a finely diced greens add extra taste, texture and crunch. In the event you’re on the lookout for a easy salad made with healthful substances that’s excellent for making prematurely and could be served as a important dish or facet, you’ll love this French lentil salad!
For easier recipes like this, this Lentil Kale Salad, Mediterranean Rice and Lentils and Roasted Vegetable Lentil Salad are all great plant-based recipes too.
Ingredient Notes
- Candy Potato: Technically optionally available so be at liberty to skip it in case you’re quick on time or don’t have a candy potato available. I just like the sweetness and selection it provides to the salad. You may substitute any winter squash, roasted cauliflower or one other roasted vegetable.
- Olive Oil: You’ll want some oil for roasting the candy potato and making the salad dressing. You should use your most popular cooking oil for roasting however a very good extra-virgin olive oil is recommended for the dressing.
- Lentils: Use French inexperienced lentils or black beluga lentils. You possibly can substitute common inexperienced or brown lentils.
- Shallot: You’ll want one small shallot or roughly 2-3 tbsp minced for the salad dressing. In the event you don’t have one out there, it’s okay to omit this ingredient.
- Dijon Mustard: You should use any Dijon mustard or complete grain mustard of selection.
- Vinegar: Crimson wine vinegar or white wine vinegar is recommended. You possibly can substitute apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. Balsamic vinegar would additionally work however I desire white wine vinegar for this recipe.
- Recent Herbs: The recipe requires recent mint, parsley and chives. Combine and match with different herbs like dill, cilantro and basil.
- Cranberries: Substitute raisins or chopped dates.
- Pumpkin Seeds: Substitute sunflower seeds, chopped walnuts, almonds or pistachios.
Please see the recipe card on the finish of the publish for the whole ingredient checklist with measurements and detailed directions.
Variations & Additions
This salad is well customizable and there’s no should be precise with the veggies so you possibly can simply combine and match to make it your personal.
- Chop up 2-3 cups of cauliflower and roast them with the candy potato, or use as a substitute of candy potato.
- Serve topped with crumbled feta cheese or goat cheese.
- Crimson bell peppers could be added along with the opposite greens or as an alternative to one in every of them.
- For a bit of warmth, add as much as 1/2 tsp pink pepper flakes to the salad dressing.
- Combine in a handful of any salad greens or child spinach on the finish so as to add greens to the salad.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Dice the candy potato and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking tray. Roast for about 20-25 minutes at 400 F.
Step 2: Rinse the lentils in chilly water then add to a medium pot with 3 cups water. Add the garlic powder and generously salt.
Deliver to a boil then cut back the warmth, cowl and evenly simmer till tender, about 20 minutes. Drain lentils if there’s any extra water remaining.
Step 3: Add all the salad gown substances to a big mixing bowl or serving bowl and whisk to mix.
Step 4: Chop the celery, onion, carrot and recent herbs.
Step 5: Add the cooked lentils, roasted candy potatoes, greens, cranberries and pumpkin seeds to the bowl with the dressing and toss to mix.
Recipe FAQs
Sure. They’ll have a barely completely different taste and texture than French lentils however they can be utilized within the recipe, swapped 1:1.
No. This recipe is greatest with French lentils (lentilles du puy or le puy lentils), black beluga lentils or common inexperienced or brown lentils.
You possibly can retailer this salad in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
It may be both. With heat lentils added proper after cooking it will likely be a heat salad. After storing, it may be served at room temperature, chilled or evenly heated within the microwave.
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Description
A lentil salad made with French lentils, greens and herbs and zesty dressing for a wholesome, hearty dish full of recent flavors.
- 1 medium candy potato, cubed (roughly 1 cup, 200g)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (15 mL)
- salt and pepper
- 1 cup French inexperienced lentils or black beluga lentils, rinsed
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup further virgin olive oil (60 mL)
- 2–3 tbsp minced shallot
- 3 cloves garlic, crushed or grated
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp pink or white wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp finely chopped recent parsley
- 3 tbsp cup finely chopped recent mint leaves
- 3 tbsp finely chopped recent chives, basil or dill
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced (roughly 1 cup, 150 g)
- 1 rib celery, diced (roughly 1/2 cup, 75 g)
- 1/2 a pink onion, diced (roughly 1/2 cup, 75 g)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (65 g)
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (60 g)
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Roast Candy Potato: Lower the candy potato into evenly sized 1/4-inch cubes. Place on a baking tray and add the 1 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and black pepper and toss to coat. Roast within the oven for 20-25 minutes till tender.
- Prepare dinner Lentils: Rinse the lentils then add to a medium pot with 3 cups of water. Salt generously and add the garlic powder. Deliver to a mild boil over medium-high warmth then cowl and cut back the warmth to low and keep a lightweight simmer for 20-25 minutes till the lentils are tender. Drain off any extra liquid.
- Combine Dressing: In a big mixing or serving bowl, add the olive oil, shallot, garlic, mustard and vinegar with a pinch of salt and pepper and whisk to completely mix. Put aside for now.
- Put together Recent Components: Finely chop the recent herbs and pink onion. Small cube the celery and carrot.
- Combine Salad: As soon as the lentils and candy potato are prepared, add to the bowl with the dressing the remainder of the salad substances and toss to mix. Season with further salt and black pepper, if wanted. Serve immediately with a squeeze of recent lemon juice, if desired, and some recent mint leaves for garnish.
Notes
Retailer lentil salad within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days. Serve at room temperature, chilled or evenly warmed within the microwave.
Serves 4 as a important dish or 6-8 as a facet dish. Diet details are for 1 of 6 servings.
Diet
- Serving Dimension: 1/6
- Energy: 331
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 596 mg
- Fats: 15 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 11 g
Key phrases: french lentil salad
