Lentil Salad
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A vibrant and filling lentil salad for a healthy dish that holds up beautifully for days.
When I’m craving a change from my usual weekday lunch, this hearty lentil salad recipe is my go-to. Made with French green lentils—my favorite for salads and lentil soup—they hold their shape beautifully when cooked and have a lovely earthy flavor. These lentils come from the volcanic soil of Le Puy en Velay in France’s Auvergne region, but you can find them at Whole Foods or specialty food shops, often in the bulk section. Unlike dried beans, lentils don’t need soaking. Just pick through them to remove any broken ones, then simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. So simple!
“Can’t stop eating it—in a bowl, on my salad—just delicious!”
What You’ll Need To Make French Lentil Salad
- French green lentils: These small, firm lentils retain their shape when cooked, making them perfect for salads. Common brown or green lentils can be substituted.
- Chicken broth: Adds depth and flavor to the lentils, ensuring they’re seasoned from the inside out.
- Veggies: Carrots add a pop of color and touch of sweetness, while celery adds a crisp, fresh bite.
- Herbs: Fresh thyme, bay leaf, and parsley add a pop of color and fragrant, earthy flavors.
- Garlic: Lends a savory, aromatic flavor.
- Dijon mustard: Adds a bit of tang and complexity to the dressing.
- Honey: Offers a touch of sweetness that balances the acidity of the lemon and mustard.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the salad with a zesty freshness and tangy acidity.
- Extra-virgin olive oil: The key to the rich, smooth dressing that binds all the flavors together.
- Goat cheese: Creamy and tangy, it adds richness and a nice contrast to the earthy lentils.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine the lentils, chicken broth and bay leaf in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, and simmer until lentils are tender. Remove the bay leaf, strain, and let cool.
In a large bowl, combine all remaining ingredients except goat cheese.
Add cooled lentils and toss to combine.
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Transfer salad to serving dish, crumble goat cheese over top and serve.
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Lentil Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup French green lentils (or common brown or green lentils)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 large carrot, finely diced
- 2 ribs celery, finely diced
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried)
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, best quality such as Lucini or Colavita
- 3 oz goat cheese
Instructions
- Before cooking the lentils, make sure you rinse them well and pick over them to remove any small rocks or debris. Combine the lentils, chicken broth, and bay leaf in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are tender, 25 to 30 minutes for French green lentils or 20 to 25 minutes for common brown or green lentils. Remove the bay leaf, strain, and let cool.
- In a large bowl, combine the carrot, celery, thyme, parsley, garlic, mustard, honey, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil. Add the cooled lentils and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Transfer salad to serving dish, crumble goat cheese over top and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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I’d love to try this and am wondering if I can use Trader Joe’s precooked lentils as a shortcut?
Sure!
Another winner in our house! I used feta instead of goat cheese, which worked well for us. Thanks!
I really enjoyed this salad! I want to make it again as a side but wondering…which of your other recipes would pair well with it?
So glad you like the salad! I think it would pair nicely with these turkey burgers or this grilled chicken.
Made this with homemade chicken stock and kohlrabi instead of celery (didn’t have any). Turned out very crunchy and flavourful. My DIL loved it…even without the goat cheese which I had forgotten at home. Another keeper!
Delicious! I actually made the dressing ahead and poured over the lentils and veggies to distribute evenly! YUM!
Thanks for sharing!
Delicious! Another great recipe! I tasted it immediately after making it. It was good but hours later it was fabulous. So flavorful. The next day it was great too. Yum! I made it with feta because that’s what we had. Next time I’ll try goat cheese.
This delicious, easy, and BEAUTIFUL recipe has become a household staple for cool dinners on hot summer nights. I always double the recipe so I can be sure to have leftovers for lunch the next day. In my experience, it is definitely worth it to get your hands on some Le Puy lentils (- easy to find online if not available locally); also, using fresh thyme instead of dried really gives it more of that authentically “French” flavor and aroma. THANKS for another winner dinner idea!
I made this last night, OMGoodness, so delicious! And not hard to make. Another winner!
Love your recipes! Thank you so much.
What brand of goat cheese do you use?
PS Your book makes a wonderful gift. I have already given 3 !
Thanks for your nice words about the recipe and gifting the cookbook to others! 💗
I actually don’t have a favorite brand of goat cheese. Depending on the store I’m in, I just get what’s available. (I usually buy already crumbled.)
Our favorite recipe on this site! This salad is so simple, yet amazingly delicious and filling. I share it with people almost every week. The only substitution I make is feta for goat cheese and I double the veggies. Everyone loves this and asks for more ~ quite a feat for lentil salad! I use many of your recipes and never have a problem. They are all well written and well tested. Thank you!