French Green Lentil Salad with Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
French Green Lentil Salad with Balsamic Vinegar dressing - A flavorful meal on its own! This is a nice recipe to make as a meal or as a side and takes less than 30 minutes to make.
This week is super exciting as I got to work with three ingredients that were mailed to me by Varada; a fellow blogger who blogs at Varada's kitchen.
A group of participating members was paired together for ingredient swap as a theme for Blogging Marathon. I have mailed three different ingredients and she had mailed me three.
The first ones I worked with are these French green lentils. I have never heard of or seen this lentil before and this was the only ingredient among the three that she had sent, so I decided to tackle that first.
As soon as I saw the lentils, I knew that I wanted to make a salad and hence came up with a very refreshing French Green Lentil Salad with balsamic vinegar dressing.
Since the lentil was something I was not aware of, I started researching a bit about it and this is what I learned. The French Green Lentils are also known as Lentilles Du Puy.
They are small gray-green lentils that are grown in Central France. They are the choice of lentil to use for salads as they hold their shape much better when cooked. The lentil also has a great earthy flavor that I loved.
Balsamic vinegar is one ingredient that I have hated in the past and in love with now. Since it is one of my newfound love, I am in the process of exploring different recipes now.
The dressing that I have made for this salad has just balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and some honey. If using honey mustard, we can omit the honey from the dressing. If you are a vegan, skip the honey and use Maple Syrup to sweeten the dressing.
Preparation time - 10 minutes
Cooking time - 25 minutes
Difficulty level - easy
Ingredients to make French Green Lentil Salad - Serves 6
- French Green lentil - 1 cup
- Sweet red onion - ¼ cup (finely chopped)
- Cucumber - ½ cup (finely chopped)
- Tomatoes (deseeded) - ¼ cup
- Jalapeno (deseeded) - 1 tablespoon (finely chopped)
- Cilantro - 2 tablespoon (finely chopped)
- Salt - to taste
- Pepper - to taste
To make the Balsamic Vinegar dressing -
- Balsamic vinegar - 3 tbsp
- Dijon mustard - 1 tbsp
- Honey - ½ tablespoon (use maple syrup if Vegan)
Procedure to make the French Green Lentil Salad -
- Rinse the lentils well under running water and soak it in water for about an hour. Soaking is not essential but it helps in cooking the lentils faster.
- Once the lentils have soaked for a bit, drain the water and add it to a pot. Add plenty of fresh water to the pot and bring it to a boil.
- Let the lentils cook until it is cooked halfway through. Add a bit of salt to the boiling water and let the lentils cook until it is soft when crushed between the fingers, but not mushy. Mine took about 20 minutes to cook after I had soaked it for about an hour. If using lentils without soaking, it might take a little longer to cook.
- Make sure that the lentils still have a bite to them and are not very mushy. Drain it in a colander and let it sit for a few minutes until it has drained completely.
- In the meantime chop the rest of the vegetables and add it to a serving dish.
- Add the well-drained lentil into the same bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.
- To make the dressing - Whisk together all the ingredients mentioned in a small bowl.
- Add the dressing to the lentil mixture and mix well.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least a couple of hours before serving. The salad can be served at room temperature as well but I preferred it cold.
If you are looking for more filling salad recipes, that can serve as a meal on their own, check out these recipes below -
Farro Salad with Tahini Dressing
Asian Pasta Salad with Peanut Dressing
Recipe
French Green Lentil Salad
Equipment
- Pot
- Mixing Bowl
- Stove
Ingredients
- 1 cup French Green lentil
- ¼ cup Sweet red onion finely chopped
- ½ cup Cucumber finely chopped
- ¼ cup Tomatoes deseeded
- 1 tablespoon Jalapeno deseeded - (finely chopped)
- 2 tablespoon Cilantro finely chopped
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
To make the Balsamic Vinegar dressing -
- 3 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon Honey
Instructions
- Rinse the lentils well under running water and soak it in water for about an hour. Soaking is not essential but it helps in cooking the lentils faster.
- Once the lentils have soaked for a bit, drain the water and add it to a pot. Add plenty of fresh water to the pot and bring it to a boil.
- Let the lentils cook until it is cooked half way through. Add a bit of salt to the boiling water and let the lentils cook until it is soft when crushed between the fingers, but not mushy. Mine took about 20 minutes to cook after I had soaked it for about an hour. If using lentils without soaking, it might take a little longer to cook.
- Make sure that the lentils still have a bite to them and are not very mushy. Drain it in a colander and let it sit for few minutes until it has drained completely.
- In the meantime chop the rest of the vegetables and add it to a serving dish.
- Add the well drained lentil in to the same bowl and add salt and pepper to taste.
- To make the dressing - Whisk together all the ingredients mentioned in a small bowl.
- Add the dressing to the lentil mixture and mix well.
- Refrigerate the salad for at least couple of hours before serving. The salad can be served at room temperature as well but I preferred it cold.
French lentils are quite new to me, the salad looks tasty and ideal for a light dinner. I need to find more information about it.
The salad looks so wholesome with simple ingredients. I will look for french green lentil next time.
Lovely salad sandhya! looks very fresh and pretty easy to make and i love salads with simple dressing!!! this would be make a pretty filling meal anytime!!
Lentil salad is always nutritious and yummy. Your recipe sounds good with all the ingredients. Maybe I will skip the honey 🙂
These lentils are also known as puy lentils and we love it in our cooking. In salad form, it's our favourite too, healthy, wholesome and packed with flavours. Totally agree, meal on its own.
Such a healthy and filling salad. Lovely recipe dear. Adding of delicious dressing must add on the taste. Superb flavourful healthy salad recipe
French Green Lentil Salad with Balsamic Vinegar dressing sounds so interesting. It’s so simple yet flavorful salad. Can we use Masoor Brown lentil for this salad instead of green one..
French Green Lentil Salad with Balsamic Vinegar dressing sounds so flavorful. It's so simple yet filling salad. Lentils with salad is my favorite combo.
What a wonderful way to enjoy the healthy lentils. Simple and filling.With Dijon mustard, must be so flavorful.
I love French lentils because they have a nice bite and taste absolutely delicious. Your salad is so colorful and flavorful. Balsamic vinegar dressing sounds yummy!!
Salads always come with so much of goodness and health, so as this one. Looks delicious and mouthwatering.
Is this the fresh version of masoor dal? Looks so much like it. Balsamic vinegar is something that I am very fond of.
I use these lentils mostly for soup - what a great idea this one is for salads
I love these lentils and the salad ... well you know I ma a soup and salad person. Will try a find the fresh ones else will make from the dried lentils.
Healthy salad Sandhya.
Do these taste similar to what we get Sandhya?..lovely salad.
I love French lentils and balsamic vinegar. I'm going to give this salad a try soon.
That's one healthy salad.The dressing sounds simple yet delicious.
Healthy Salad!! anytimg with lentils im in!!
Wow, cant wait to make this salad, i have this green lentils at home. Very healthy salad Sandhya.
Its my fav lentil and my fav dressing. Love balsamic vinegar with anything and everything. 🙂
Love these lentils both in salads and soups.
That's a great salad sandhya! Does it taste similar to whole masoor dal? Remember eating these in Paris , Unless am mistaking one lentil for the orher
Very healthy nutritious salad. The dressing sounds so yum..