May 20, 2013

Lentil & Feta Salad


Almost every restaurant I've dined at recently has featured an amazing lentil salad on its menu. I decided to try and make one at home. I found these amazing French Puy Lentils (slate green lentils) at the supermarket and searched for a healthy recipe to best cook them. Puy Lentils are great for salads because they have a unique peppery flavour, hold their round shape during cooking, and are packed with fiber. I researched then tweaked different recipes and came up with this one - it turned out quite delicious and healthy, and is a PERFECT SUMMER SALAD :)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of French Puy Lentils
3 Cups Boiling Water
1 Bay Leaf
3/4 Long English Cucumber (diced)
1 yellow pepper (diced)
1 red pepper (diced)
1/2 red onion (very finely diced)
1 cup Red and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes (cut into quarters)
1 lemon (juiced)
1 cup finely chopped parsley

STEP 1: Put 1 1/2 cups of lentils in a bowl with 3 cups of boiling water. Cover with a plate and let them sit for 15 minutes. Transfer the lentils and water to a pot and add a bay leaf. When the water boils, turn down the heat to a simmer and cover. Leave the lentils to boil for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so. Make sure to stir to the bottom of the pot or the lentils will burn and stick to the bottom.

STEP 2: Chop all of the vegetables, onions, parsley, and lemon juice and place them into a glass bowl

STEP 3: Make the Dressing
You will need:
1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 Tablespoon Red Grape Vinegar
1 Tablespoon chopped Parsley
1 lemon juiced
6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3/4 Teaspoon cumin
Salt & Pepper

Mix together all of the ingredients for the dressing & pour over the chopped veggies


STEP 4: Drain the lentils and remove the bay leaf


STEP 5Add the lentils to the veggies and dressing in the glass bowl. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and refrigerate for around 2 hours or until the lentils cool 



STEP 6: Before serving, remove the bowl from the refrigerator, squeeze in half a lemon and add a bit of parsley. Add flavoured crumbled feta on the top - I like ATHENOS FETA in Tomato & Basil which can be found at most supermarkets


You can toss the salad or keep the crumbled feta at the top - it's your call! 


Bon Appetit 

Do you like lentil salads for summer?

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