Photo: ^©Claudia Concas

French Lentil Salad Recipe

Learn how to prepare a great side dish, French lentil salad, with this recipe and cooking tips from Fine Dining Lovers.

BYClaudia Concas,

Journalist

03 March, 2021

serves for

total time

9 HR 0 MIN

ingredients

Green lentils

250 g

Spring onion

Apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons

Ginger

30 g

Mustard sauce

1 tablespoon

Ricotta cheese

150 g

Celery

150 g

Red chilli peppers

Garlic

2 cloves

Rosemary

1 sprig

Mint

4 leaves

Basil

8 leaves

Extra virgin olive oil

To taste

Salt

to taste

Black pepper

to taste

Rich in vegetable protein and flavour, French lentil salad is perfect for a light lunch. French lentils and green lentils have an earthy and almost spicy flavour, but their most distinctive feature is certainly the fact that, once cooked, they retain their shape and crunchy texture. This makes them particularly suitable for preparing both hot and cold salads and side dishes. Not to be underestimated is the simplicity of these ingredients, as demonstrated by the fact that there are many Michelin-starred chefs who cook lentils and offer them in a gourmet version on their menus.

Here is the French lentil salad recipe that Fine Dining Lovers has designed and prepared for you.

Step 01

Photo: ^©Claudia Concas

If you are using giant green lentils, soak them in a bowl full of water. Let the lentils rehydrate for about 8 hours and then drain them.

Step 02

Photo: ^©Claudia Concas

Roughly chop celery and brown it in a pan with the garlic cloves, rosemary and a drizzle of oil. Add the well-drained lentils, mix and cover with water.

Step 03

Photo: ^©Claudia Concas

Season with salt and pepper and cook the lentils for about 15 minutes, until they are soft and the liquid has completely evaporated.

Step 04

Photo: ^©Claudia Concas

Prepare the dressing for the green lentil salad. Put 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons of oil and the mustard in a bowl, and emulsify well with a whisk or fork.

Step 05

Photo: ^©Claudia Concas

Clean the spring onions and cut them into thin slices. Peel the remaining celery with the potato peeler and cut into slices. Clean the ginger and cut it into strips.

Step 06

Photo: ^©Claudia Concas

Remove the ends of the peppers and cut them into rings. Once ready, put the lentils in a bowl and let them cool.

Season the lentils with the emulsion and mix well. Add the chilli, ginger, spring onion, celery, sprinkled ricotta and finally the coarsely chopped aromatic herbs.

Serve the French green lentil salad at room temperature or cold.

Curiosity

Lentils were once considered a poor food as they were cheap and available in large quantities. Today, more than ever, they represent an important source of protein, especially for those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, and there are many easy recipes with lentils to bring these legumes to the table with different tastes and combinations.

Recipe Variations

Like all salads, apart from the famous ones such as salad Niçoise for example, French lentil salad can be prepared according to taste. You can add different types of cheeses and greens, but above all, infinite combinations of vegetables.

There are many easy-to-prepare lentil recipes - try them with carrots, which will give a note of sweetness, or with cherry tomatoes to enrich the scent of this recipe with pleasant summer notes.