Quick & Easy Lentil Salad

Salads are boring right?! Well they can be, but I have some tips for you that will help you make your salads not boring and tasty. When you think about a salad make sure it has these 5 elements:

First, the base of a salad should be some kind of leafy green vegetable like kale, spinach, lettuce. Other veggies (bell peppers, broccoli, zucchini etc.), to make a salad colorful and exciting, are also a key element. Then it should have some kind of plant based protein source, to make the salad an actually filling meal, like beans (chickpeas, black beans, edamame etc.), tofu or tempeh. Next a crunchy textural element to make your salad more interesting like nuts and seeds (walnuts, sesame seeds, flax seeds etc.) or even dried fruits like cranberries. Last, but not least, a flavorful dressing is what makes a salad unique and fun. A good dressing should have a sour element (lemon juice, balsamic vinegar etc.), a healthy fat source (avocado, tahini etc.), a tiny bit of sweetness (dates, maple syrup / agave ) and salt or some spice (black pepper, chili).

Ingredients:

• 250g can of cooked lentils, drained and rinsed

• 1 red bell pepper, diced

• 1 medium white pearl onion, thinly sliced

• 2 tbsp raisins

• 1 tbsp mixed seeds

• handful of peanuts or other nuts, roughly chopped

dressing:

• 2 cm fresh ginger, grated

• 1-2 tbsp neutral oil

• 1 tsp each: oregano, thyme, parsley, basil, garlic powder

• salt & pepper to taste

• juice of half a lemon

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, mix together the can of lentils, diced bell pepper, and onion.

2. To make the salad dressing, combine the oil, seasonings, ginger, and lemon juice in a small mixing bowl or mason jar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Pour the dressing over the lentil mixture and stir until everything is nicely coated in the dressing.

4. Serve cold and top with raisins, peanuts, and mixed seeds.

Notes:

What else can I use instead of red onion? Pearl onions or spring onions work well in this recipe as well.

You can substitute the peanuts in this recipe for walnuts or any of your favorite nuts.

Instead of raisins you could use cranberries or even pomegranate seeds.

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