Description
A delicious Lebanese lentil salad enhanced with warm cumin dressing, parsley, mint, and fresh vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 250g (1¼ cups) green or brown lentils, rinsed
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 4 tablespoons good extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- Juice of 2 lemons
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Pinch of cayenne or pul biber (optional)
- Large bunch flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- Small handful fresh mint, finely chopped
- 1 small red onion, very finely diced
- 1 medium cucumber, deseeded and diced
- 2 medium tomatoes, deseeded and diced
- 1 teaspoon sumac (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the lentils — Place the rinsed lentils in a medium saucepan with 1 litre of cold water, the salt and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer. Cook for 18–25 minutes, checking at 18 minutes.
- Drain and spread to cool — Drain the cooked lentils through a sieve and spread them on a large flat tray or baking sheet in a single layer. Leave to cool for 10 minutes.
- Make the warm cumin dressing — Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook gently, stirring, for 1–2 minutes. Then add the ground cumin and allspice.
- Dress the lentils while warm — Transfer the slightly cooled but still warm lentils to a large bowl and pour the warm cumin dressing over them. Toss gently to coat every lentil.
- Add the herbs and vegetables — Once the lentils have cooled to room temperature, fold in the parsley, mint, red onion, cucumber and tomato. Sprinkle sumac over the top.
- Rest before serving — Leave the assembled salad to rest for at least 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.
Notes
This salad tastes even better the next day as the flavors meld. Serve at room temperature for the best taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Lebanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 15g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 0mg