Warm French lentil salad is a comfort salad, easy to cook with Green French lentils. A quick vegan salad with minimum ingredients. The best part of this plant-based protein salad is no soaking required. I soaked for 15 minutes in hot water to speed up my cooking. Mostly, shallots are added to this salad.
I did not use any vegetables here. You can use shredded red cabbage, grated carrot, or any greens too. I wanted to keep mine simple. This doesn’t have much of a dressing. I have used pickle brine here, do definitely use brine in your salad. You’ll love your salad with brine flavor.
Food for the thought
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
– Buddha
Benefits of the ingredients (source)
French green lentils Lentils are an excellent source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. They’re also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber.
Variations
Lentils If you don’t have green French salad, you can use brown salad.
For Dressing I have used brine. When it comes to dressing the options are endless. Use apple cider vinegar, sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard.
Vegetables use carrots, spinach, colored peppers, cabbage.
Cooking French lentils
French lentils do not require soaking. I soaked to speed up my process. If soaking, soak for 15 minutes in hot water. Drain it. Immediately transfer to the boiling water/stock and cook for 10 minutes or until tender.
If not soaking, rinse the lentils and cook in boiling water/stock for 20-25 minutes. Once cooked drain the lentils.
Make sure you don’t cook lentils more. Mushy lentils are not perfect for salad. The homemade vegetable stock recipe is here.
Should I use brown or green lentils for French salad?
Green lentils are perfect for French lentil salad. But definitely, you can use brown lentils too.
Preparing French Lentil salad
Step 1 Cooking lentils
Soak the lentils for 15 minutes and drain them. Cook the lentils in water/stock for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain them and keep them aside.
Step 2 Frying onions
Fry onions in a medium flame until caramelized or translucent. If using fried onions this step can be skipped.
Step 3 Prepare the dressing
Add pickled brine, chopped parsley, lemon juice, pepper, and salt. Mix well add the peppers and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
Step 4 Tossing the salad
Toss all together and enjoy!!
Other vegan salad recipes you may like
Quinoa salad with chickpeas
Thai Pineapple & Cucumber salad In wonton Cups
Green papaya salad | Vegan som tum
French Lentil Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup french lentils
- 1 medium yellow onions chopped
- 1/4 cup sweet red peppers chopped
- 2 tbsp brine of any pickle
- 2 tbsp chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- Fried onions optional
Instructions
- Soak the french lentils for 15 minutes in hot water and drain them.
- In boiling water add the soaked french beans,salt, and cook until tender Drain and allow it to cool.
- Meantime, fry onions in oil and keep aside.
- In a bowl add any pickled brine, red peppers, olive oil, ground pepper, and salt. Let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Once the beans are warm toss onions, dressing together. Add fried onions while serving.
Notes
- Add vinegar if you don’t have brine.
- French lentils can be cooked in vegetable stock.
- Soaking is optional. If you don’t soak cooking time will be more.
- Fried onions are optional.