Lentil Salad with Fresh Herbs
This flavorful salad is easy and impressive, a welcome addition to the summer buffet table.
Prep Time1 hour hr
Cook Time40 minutes mins
Resting Time1 hour hr
Total Time2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Italian, Middle Eastern
Keyword: herbs, lentil, lentils, salad
Servings: 6
Author: A. JoAnn
- 1 cup lentils, dry
- 3 cups water
- 3 cups chopped, mixed, fresh herbs: parsley, oregano, mint, thyme
- ½ cup lemon juice, fresh
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp crushed garlic
- 2 tsp cumin, ground
- 1 tsp allspice, ground
- salt & pepper to taste
Cook the Lentils
Rinse the lentils in a colander and discard any pebbles, stems, etc. that may have been packed in the bag.
Put the lentils and 3 cups of water in a large pot and bring the pot to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the lentils become tender but not mushy. (Some may get mushy, but that's okay.)
Drain the cooked lentils in colander. Cool and then refrigerate if you are making the salad later.
Prepare the Fresh Herbs
Wash and remove stems from oregano, mint, and thyme. Wash the parsley. Chop herbs to make about 3 cups. You can vary the amount of each herb according to your taste. I used more parsley and mint than oregano, and just a few sprigs of thyme.
Construct the Salad
Toss the prepared lentils and herbs together. Pour the dressing over the salad and continue tossing to evenly distribute the dressing.
Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Allow the salad to rest for 30 minutes to an hour before serving, to allow flavors to meld.
Refrigerate leftovers.