Beans aren’t the only member of the legume family worth celebrating. Lentils, packed with fiber and protein, are just as nutritious. Plus they cook up—no soaking required—in only 15 to 20 minutes. A French ami shared her mother’s traditional recipe for lentil salad with me years ago.

This simple French Green Lentil Salad, seasoned with a vinaigrette, is a classic dish in France. It makes a wonderful, protein-rich highlight of any meal. Because the flavors continue to meld, it’s also great the next day.

Watch me make this recipe in my Plant-Power Live Instagram show here.

French Green Lentil Salad with Cherry Tomatoes

(4 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
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4.5 from 4 reviews

• Author: The Plant-Powered Dietitian
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings
• Diet: Vegan

Description

Ingredients

Salad:

• 3 cups dried green lentils
• 5 cups water
• 1 cube vegetable broth bouillon
• 4 celery stalks, diced (about 1½ cups)
• 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 medium shallots (or 1/2 small onion)
• ¼ cup packed chopped fresh parsley

Vinaigrette:

• 1½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 medium garlic clove, minced
• Pinch of sea salt, optional

Instructions

1. Place the lentils, water, and vegetable broth bouillon in a pot. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.

   Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the lentils are tender but firm.

2. Remove from the heat, drain any remaining liquid, and transfer the lentils to a large bowl. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
3. Stir in the celery, tomatoes, shallots, and parsley.
4. In a small dish, make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, mustard, vinegar, herbes de Provence, black pepper, and garlic.
5. Add the dressing to the lentil mixture and toss. Taste and season with sea salt, if desired. Chill until serving time.
6. Makes 6 servings (1 cup each).

Notes

*Star Nutrients: vitamin A (13% DV), thiamine (10% DV), vitamin B6 (11% DV), folate: (40% DV), vitamin C (19% DV), vitamin K (67% DV), copper (13% DV), iron (16% DV) magnesium (10% DV), manganese (24% DV), phosphorus (16% DV), potassium (14% DV)

Recipe from Plant-Powered for Life: Eat Your Way to Lasting Health with 52 Simple Steps and 125 Delicious Recipes, ©Sharon Palmer 2014.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Entree
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cup
• Calories: 136
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 55 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 19 g
• Fiber: 4 g fiber
• Protein: 8 g

Keywords: vegan salad, lentil salad, French green lentil salad, salad with cherry tomatoes

Did you make this recipe?

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I love to use Spiceology spices for recipes such as this French Green Lentil Salad.

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For more plant-based recipes including lentils, check out the following:

Lentil Walnut Bolognese with Spaghetti
Black Lentil Pesto Salad with Butternut Squash and Brussels Sprouts
Savory Vegan Lentil Mushroom Pie with Sage Pastry
Curried Yellow Lentil Stew

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