Green Lentil Salad

“Made this tonight and it was so good. Perfect for a colder night. We don’t eat meat, so it had plenty of protein for us. Loved the texture that the lemon juice and cheese created with the dried fruits and apple.”

—Erika

This Lentil Salad is a crowd pleaser

There’s a lot of lentil salads out there, but this one might be the most interesting you’ll find.

With a culinary school background and a knack for creating restaurant-quality dishes at home, I chose each ingredient for this warm lentil salad carefully.

The balance of different flavors (earthy, salty, sweet, creamy) and textures (chewy, crunchy, soft) will have everybody you serve it to coming back for another scoop.

What You’ll Love About This Lentil Salad

• Can be served as a warm side dish or a cold lunch salad.
• Packed with protein and fiber, this salad is a wholesome addition to any meal.
• Easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

Lentil Salad Recipe Ingredients

• green lentils – the base of the salad.
• salt – for seasoning the lentils as they cook.
• olive oil – for sautéing the apple and dressing the salad.
• apple – provides a mellow sweetness.
• dried apricots – add a chewy texture and natural sweetness.
• raisins – add a contrasting texture.
• lemon juice – adds acidity and brightness.
• oregano and parsley – infuse the salad with fresh herbal notes.
• feta cheese – provides a tangy, creamy element.
• pistachios – offer a nutty crunchy and flavor
• tahini – an optional finishing touch for drizzling over the salad.

How to Make Lentil Salad With Feta

1. LENTILS. Add the lentils to a pot of salted water and cook until they are tender, then drain them.
2. APPLE. Saute the apple in a bit of oil until golden brown and tender-crisp.
3. ASSEMBLE. In a large bowl, toss the apricots, raisins, lemon juice, oregano, lentils, apple and more olive oil until everything is well combined. Let this mixture stand 5 minutes, and then add in the feta, parsley and pistachios. Serve drizzled with tahini, if desired.

Lentil Apple Salad Recipe Variations

• VEGAN – Make it vegan by skipping the feta or using a vegan feta alternative.
• EXTRA VEGGIES – Add additional veggies like diced cucumber or shredded carrots if you’d like.

Home Chef Tips

• Keep a close eye on the lentils as they cook to avoid overooking them, which will cause them to lose their shape and texture. Aim for tender but still firm lentils.
• This salad can be enjoyed warm or cold.

What to Serve With Warm Lentil Salad

This salad can be a complete meal on its own, but it also pairs wonderfully with grilled meats or seafood, or as a side to your favorite Mediterranean dishes. Some of my favorite things to pair this with include:

• Greek Chicken Meatballs
• Lamb Lollipops
• Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce for Salmon

Storing Leftover Green Lentil Salad

If you have leftovers, transfer them to a storage container and place them in the fridge uncovered for a few hours until they are fully chilled, then cover them with the lid and keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days.