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Recipe

French Green Lentil Salad

5 from 2 votes
Author: Thomas Pagot
This 30-minute French-inspired green lentil salad is hearty, fresh, and flavored with a bright Dijon mustard vinaigrette! Delightful and wholesome, this rustic salad comes together in less than 30 minutes. Perfect as a light summer appetizer or as a side dish!
Prep Time : 5 minutes
Cook Time : 25 minutes
Total Time : 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 282 kcal

Ingredients
 

Vinaigrette

  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley
  • 2-3 mint leaves chopped

Instructions
 

Cook the lentils

  • Clean the lentils. Add the green lentils to a bowl and cover with cold water. Drain and repeat once.
  • Let simmer. Add the green lentils to a deep saucepan and cover with the 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer. Cover with a lid and cook for 20-25 minutes. I recommend checking the doneness of the lentils at the 18 minutes mark. Lentils should be tender.
  • Drain. Remove from heat and drain the cooked lentils. Rinse them twice under cold water. This will stop the cooking process and cool the lentils. Transfer the cooked lentils to a mixing bowl and set aside.

Make the vinaigrette

  • Combine the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl and stir until fully combined.

Assemble

  • Add the vinaigrette and fresh herbs to the lentils. Using a wooden spoon, toss to coat the lentils with the vinaigrette. Taste and adjust the saltiness and tanginess to your liking.
  • Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to merge.

Notes

  • Adjust the cooking time. Depending on the type of lentils used, you might have to increase or decrease the cooking time. It also comes down to your preference. I personally prefer the lentils to be very tender, but if you like your lentils al-dente, cook them for a shorter amount of time.
  • Make it zesty. Feel free to add lemon zest and an extra tablespoon of lemon juice to make this green lentil salad more lemony!
  • Play with the herbs. Fresh herbs add a ton of flavor to this lentil salad! Do not hesitate to use different herbs like cilantro, tarragon, chives, or rosemary.
  • Let the salad rest. I highly recommend letting the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to merge and the lentils to absorb some of the vinaigrette.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 282 kcal | Carbohydrates: 32.2 g | Protein: 14.2 g | Fat: 11.4 g | Saturated Fat: 1.6 g | Sodium: 311 mg | Potassium: 554 mg | Fiber: 15.9 g | Sugar: 1.1 g | Calcium: 35 mg | Iron: 4 mg
Course : Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine : French
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