French Green Lentil Salad with Balsamic Vinegar dressing - A flavorful meal on its own!
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 were 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 one I worked with are these French green lentils. I have never heard 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 very refreshing French Green Lentil Salad with balsamic vinegar dressing.
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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 lentil that are grown in Central France. They are the choice of lentil to use for salads as they hold there 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 new found love, I am in the process of exploring different recipes now. This dressing that I have made for this salad has just the 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 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.
If you are looking for more filling salad recipes, that can serve as a meal on its own, check out these recipes below -
Farro Salad with Tahini Dressing
Asian Pasta Salad with Peanut Dressing
French Green Lentil Salad
Ingredients
- 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 tbsp finely chopped
- Salt - to taste
- Pepper - to taste
To make the Balsamic Vinegar dressing -
- Balsamic vinegar - 3 tbsp
- Dijon mustard - 1 tbsp
- Honey - ½ tbsp
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.
Jayashree T.Rao says
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.
Lathiya says
The salad looks so wholesome with simple ingredients. I will look for french green lentil next time.
Priya Srinivasan says
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!!
Uma Srinivas says
Lentil salad is always nutritious and yummy. Your recipe sounds good with all the ingredients. Maybe I will skip the honey 🙂
Jagruti's Cooking Odyssey says
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.
Ruchi says
Such a healthy and filling salad. Lovely recipe dear. Adding of delicious dressing must add on the taste. Superb flavourful healthy salad recipe
Jolly says
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..
Lata Lala says
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.
Mayuri Patel says
What a wonderful way to enjoy the healthy lentils. Simple and filling.With Dijon mustard, must be so flavorful.
Pavani says
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!!
Shailender Sharma says
Salads always come with so much of goodness and health, so as this one. Looks delicious and mouthwatering.
Jayashree says
Is this the fresh version of masoor dal? Looks so much like it. Balsamic vinegar is something that I am very fond of.
Chef Mireille says
I use these lentils mostly for soup - what a great idea this one is for salads
themadscientsist says
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.
harini says
Healthy salad Sandhya.
Srivalli Jetti says
Do these taste similar to what we get Sandhya?..lovely salad.
Pavani says
I love French lentils and balsamic vinegar. I'm going to give this salad a try soon.
Sandhiya says
That's one healthy salad.The dressing sounds simple yet delicious.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Healthy Salad!! anytimg with lentils im in!!
Priya Suresh says
Wow, cant wait to make this salad, i have this green lentils at home. Very healthy salad Sandhya.
srividhya says
Its my fav lentil and my fav dressing. Love balsamic vinegar with anything and everything. 🙂
Usha says
Love these lentils both in salads and soups.
Kalyani says
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
Gayathri Kumar says
Very healthy nutritious salad. The dressing sounds so yum..