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 5: Add 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?