Monday, August 30, 2010

Mediterranean Lentil Salad




As I've mentioned here and here, I've been recently going through a bit of a salad phase. I've been experimenting with quinoa and now with lentils and have been pleasantly surprised with how delicious and filling they've turned out! This is my most recent salad experiment and it did not disappoint. I added some fresh tomatoes, a red pepper, and used the lentils from Trader Joe's that are already cooked and just need to be heated. The whole salad only took a few minutes to prepare!

1.5 cups lentils
1/2 cup sliced sundried tomatoes
1/3 cup kalamata olives, pitted and chopped
1/3 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar1 tsp. dijon mustard
2 Tbsp. good quality extra virgin olive oil
3 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Bring a pot of water and the bay leaf to a boil. Rinse and pick over the lentils, and then add them to the boiling water. Cook until soft, about 20-25 minutes.
Drain the lentils and set aside to cool slightly. Toss with the sundried tomatoes, olives and parsley.
Whisk together the shallot, red wine vinegar and dijon. Slowly add the olive oil, whisking constantly until the dressing emulsifies. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour the dressing over the slightly warm lentils and mix to combine. Top with goat cheese crumbles. Serve at room temperature.

41 comments:

shopgirl said...

Sounds like an interesting recipe. I think I will definitely try this sometime in the Autumn.

Cheers!

Diana Mieczan said...

That is a great recipe..It looks so good:) I am going to make it this week for sure:)

Kisses,sweetie
Happy Monday...Can you believe that in two days its September already?

Julie Leah said...

That looks yum!! I've decided that there aren't many salads that I don't like- any vegetables, any cheese, any dressing, doesn't matter!

Have a wonderful Monday, lovey!! xoxo

STYLE'N said...

Hi Valerie-hope you had a lovely weekend. This looks so healthy and yummy. We live on lentils in this house! I have to try this. I printed off your quinoa recipe and haven't made it yet. But tonight we are home for dinner so I am giving it a try!
naina

k said...

how do you come up with so many interesting recipes, i swear!!
happy monday lady!

Julie said...

Looks too good to only take a couple minutes! You make some really good looking food! Have a lovely day!

Julie xo

Lilacandgrey said...

you always make the best salads!

Erica said...

Oh, I am so going to try this! I absolutely love lentils ; )

Kay Richardson said...

These salads are like food to mine eyes. Yummy.

20 YORK STREET said...

Ha ha, I laughed when I read your first line, that's exactly what I was thinking when the photos were loading up!

Did you have a great weekend in Colorado?

xoxo,

http://twentyyork.blogspot.com

Joanna said...

Let me just tell you that I am now coming to you for recipes! I actually tried the saffron orzo with shrimp and I did use Trader Joe's israeli couscous and quinoa ( I eat quinoa often) but NO ORZO! my local grocery store and Joe's didn't have it UGH! but it turned out delish! I think I overdid it with the lemon a bit but oh well!

Nikki said...

Oh my gosh Valerie, I love all these beautiful healthy meals you whip up! Definitely inspires me to cook some more healthy vegetarian meals.
This looks delish!!
Have a great Monday!

xx
Nikki

Andrea said...

Oh this looks so yummy Valerie! Can you please come to my house and cook??

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Sounds amazing! Anything topped with goat cheese is a YES in my book :)

Jamie said...

Healthy and yummy!! And isn't everything better with a little cheese? ;)

http://www.glamlatte.com

Gabriel said...

If you had asked me weather I'd be interested in lentil salad I would have laughed and said, "no way". But it totally surprised me; I loved it!

Ms. Emmy N said...

I love lentils but I have never attempted to cook them! This looks so tasty! I am going to have to try it!

Lila said...

I love bean salads. So rich and yummy. Great recipe.

PursuitOfLLT said...

hmmm I never have made lentils myself but always buy them when Whole Foods makes salads with them. This, I will definitely have to try!

And I don't know if you'd like it, but you should try a tomato, watermelon, feta salad. So good!

Lindsay said...

Another delicious recipe. Hope you had a great weekend girl :)

Josie said...

The tomatoes make this look so tasty! My current favorite salad is feta, spinach, and strawberries or watermelon -- so delicious!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

Andrea (Panda) said...

looks yummy!

Annie said...

This looks soooo delicious! I love lentils, but I'm always eating them hot.. I'll have to try this! Thanks Valerie and thank you for your sweet comment today. :) I cannot believe how fast our first year went - I know you know exactly what I mean! It's crazy. I wonder if this next year will go faster or slower...

Same Sweet Girl: Memoir of a Southern Belle said...

Well I am not a fan of olives but I think this would be just as good without them!! Thanks for the yummy recipe! :)

Gorgeous Glam said...

Looks healthy and delish! Thanks for sharing doll ;)

Anonymous said...

That looks so good!

Alicia Lund said...

I love all your recipes! What a great healthy meal option... made I will try this tonight!

Lisa - respect the shoes said...

That looks delish - I've tried a couple of the recipes you've posted before (the piccata and artichoke pesto pasta) and they've been big hits. I'll probably be recipe copying you again!

this free bird said...

Valerie - this sounds great. I love that it's totally healthy and quick to whip up. You're the salad queen! yay!!

Hope you had a great weekend. I'm over here yawning like crazy. Why do good days go by sooooo fast? sigh

xoxo,
Carrie

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

Looks yummy- i've never had anything lentil besides lentil soup! which I really like, lol.

torrie said...

This looks like such a good combination of flavors! I've been going through a bit of a goat cheese/sun dried tomato phase... and I LOVE kalamata olives, so I must add this to my 'to cook' list!

That is so cool about your proposal!! That is seriously how I feel about wine tasting, because as I wrote- it signifies a really special time in our lives when our marriage when from 'good' to GREAT. :)

J. said...

Mmmm my mom would go crazy for this! Now if only I was a nice enough daughter to actually make it for her lol

Marie said...

One word: Yummy!:D

***** Marie *****
allthingsmarie.com

Elle Sees said...

i've never tried this!
i'm doing a strawberry pecan salad on thursday on the blog!

Curves Ahead lifestyle blogger said...

this looks amazing new follow loving your blog hope you can follow too!

Poppies and Sunshine said...

Mmm this looks so fresh and delicious! I always have lentils on hand. I must try this!

Oh, My Darling said...

Yum, I love lentils!

Joyti said...

Salads seem so perfect for summer. Yours looks so pretty and I bet it was delicious.

Marcie said...

I just found this amazing place where I can buy fresh lentil, so I have to try this. I love that your new salads are so fresh, easy and healthy. A perfect combination!

xo M

PS- You have to try Pinkberry's new flavors. They are delish!

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

Looks delish! I went to Trader Joes today and totally thought of you and Quinoa :)

Nicole Marie said...

saving this recipe!!