Make-Ahead Lentil Salad

Made with lentils, veggies, feta cheese, and fresh herbs, this make-ahead lentil salad recipe is a quick and easy meal prep idea that works well for lunch and dinner alike. The combination of ingredients helps to create a fiber-rich and plant-based protein-packed salad that is equally tasty as it is delicious.

If you are trying to stock your fridge with healthy options, look no further than this lentil salad! Although all salads are healthy options, having a pre-made salad ready to go is perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have time to cook or need to pack lunch for the next day. Thanks to their robust nature and dense texture, lentils keep well for days in the fridge and don’t wilt when dressed making them perfect for make-ahead salads. Not only are lentils incredibly easy to cook, but they are a rich source of fiber and plant-based protein which can help to balance your blood sugar, support digestive health, and minimize cravings.

Although this recipe calls for dry lentils, you could also use canned lentils, and to help add an extra depth of flavor, cook your lentils in broth instead of water before adding them to this simple make-ahead lentil salad.

More Make-Ahead Salad Recipes:

• Three Bean Salad
• Wild Rice Salad
• Lentil and Quinoa Salad
• Farro Salad with Feta and Arugula

Make-Ahead Lentil Salad

Author: Stephanie Kay

Made with green lentils, cucumbers, tomatoes, feta and tossed in a fresh lemon garlic dressing, this make-ahead lentil salad is perfect for lunch and dinner alike!

• Author: Stephanie Kay
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings
• Category: Salads
• Cuisine: Vegetarian, Gluten-Free
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Ingredients

Lentil Salad:

• 1 cup Puy or French lentils, dry
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1/2 English cucumber, quartered and sliced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 2 cloves garlic, grated or minced
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook lentils according to package directions or until tender, approximately 15-17 minutes. Once cooked, strain and rinse under cold water to cool, and set aside.
2. While the lentils are cooking, prepare the vegetables and dressing. Chop the tomatoes, cucumber and red onion into bite-size pieces, and mince the parsley.
3. In a small bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, sea salt and black pepper. Set aside.
4. Once the lentils have cooled, combine lentils and vegetables in a large bowl and stir to combine.
5. Cover with dressing and toss well to combine and ensure that the salad is well coated with the dressing.
6. Sprinkle crumled feta cheese, toss again, and season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
7. The salad can be serve immediately or stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 265 calories
• Sugar: 7 grams
• Fat: 17 grams
• Carbohydrates: 25 grams
• Fiber: 7 grams
• Protein: 8 grams