This is my favorite Mediterranean Lentil Salad recipe. It is packed with wholesome green lentils, this dish is a nutritional powerhouse, with a rich source of protein and fiber. This salad is a must-try for a wholesome dining experience.
Lentil Salad with Feta Cheese
This salad combines the earthy goodness of lentils with feta cheese and the citrusy zing of orange segments. Tossed with crisp watercress, and onion slices, and drizzled with a zesty orange dressing, this salad is refreshingly bright and delicious. If you are a fan of lentils and salads then you will also like Lentil Soup, Pasta Salad, Cowboy Salad, and Stuffed Tomato Salad.
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⭐Why You'll Love This Mediterranean Lentil Salad
- Easy to Make: This lentil salad is simple to prepare.
- Nutrient-Rich: Lentils are a fantastic source of protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. When you mix them with the vitamins from oranges and the antioxidants in beetroot, this salad becomes a nutritional powerhouse.
- Versatility: Lentil salads are super versatile. You can enjoy this dish as a light and healthy meal on its own, or pair it with other dishes to make a heartier meal.
🧾Ingredients
Here is a list of everything you need:
- Green Lentils: The green lentils are the real star of this salad. I love them because they have a nice, firm texture that’s perfect for salads. But feel free to use red or brown lentils if you like those better!
- Vegetables: I love adding red onion, precooked beetroot, and watercress to give this salad a bright mix of colors and textures. If you prefer, you can use yellow onions, sweet onions, arugula, spinach, or roasted fresh beetroot instead.
- Feta Cheese: Feta adds a creamy, tangy flavor that goes perfectly with the lentils. If you’re not into feta, you could try goat cheese or even a sharp cheddar instead.
- Orange: I love adding orange to this recipe for a burst of citrus flavor. I use the orange segments, zest, and juice.
- Dressing: A simple mix of extra virgin olive oil, orange juice, honey, salt, and black pepper really brings everything together beautifully.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Lentil Salad
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Wash the green lentils with cold water. Cook as per the package instructions until they're tender but still a bit firm. Drain off any extra water.
2. Cut the onion into thin slices and then set it aside.
3. Use a zester to extract the zest from an orange. Once done, set it aside.
4. Remove the peel from the orange and carefully cut it into segments. Afterward, set the orange segments aside.
5. Squeeze the orange in your hand to extract the juice into a small bowl.
6. Combine salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, and honey with the orange juice. Whisk the ingredients together to create the dressing. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.
7. Arrange the cooked green lentils on a flat plate, and then add slices of onion, watercress, or your favorite green salad leaf, along with orange segments.
8. Cut the pre-cooked beetroot into slices and incorporate them into the salad.
9. Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese evenly over the salad.
10. Liberally scatter the orange zest atop the lentil salad.
11. Drizzle the dressing onto the salad and delicately mix to ensure an even coating of flavors on all ingredients.
📖Variations
- Greek Lentil Salad: Combine lentils with diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese. Dress it with a Greek-inspired vinaigrette using extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and oregano.
- Caprese Lentil Salad: Combine lentils with fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and basil. Drizzle with balsamic glaze or a balsamic vinaigrette for a classic Caprese twist.
- Tahini-Lemon Lentil Salad: Dress lentils with a creamy tahini-lemon dressing. Add diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and chopped parsley for a Middle Eastern-inspired flavor.
🍽 What to serve with Lentil Salad
I like serving this Mediterranean lentil salad at room temperature, but it's also great chilled if you prefer.
This salad is so versatile that you can serve it as a standalone dish or as a side. I serve as an appetizer with crusty bread and crackers. For lunch and dinner, it's great with Fried Chicken, Chicken Noodle Soup, or Pork Rolls on the side.
💭Tips for Recipe Success
Cook Lentils Correctly: Make sure to cook the lentils just right. Overcooked lentils can get mushy, so follow the package instructions and taste them to get the perfect texture.
Balance Sweet and Tangy: I recommend using ripe, flavorful oranges to get the right balance of sweetness and tanginess in the salad. This is important to complement the earthy lentils and sweet beetroot.
Prevent Feta Sogginess: If you're planning to save the salad for later, keep the feta separate and add it just before serving. This way, it won't get too soggy.
Storage: Store the leftover lentil salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
🍛More Appetizer Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite appetizer recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Mediterranean Lentil Salad
Ingredients
- 100 g Green Lentils
- ½ Red Onion
- Orange zest
- 1 Orange
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 20 g Watercress or any Green Salad Leaf
- 1 Precooked Beetroot
- 50 g Feta Cheese
Instructions
- Rinse the green lentils under cold water. Cook them according to the package instructions until they are tender but still have a bit of bite. Drain any excess water.
- Slice the onion. Set aside.
- Zest an orange with a zester. Set aside.
- Peel an orange and cut orange segments. Set aside.
- Press the orange in your hand and take out the juice in a small bowl.
- Add salt, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, and honey to the orange juice and whisk together the ingredients to make the dressing. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Place the cooked green lentils on a flat plate and add onion slices, watercress or your preferred green salad leaf and orange segments.
- Slice the precooked beetroot and add to the salad.
- Crumble the feta cheese over the top of the salad.
- Sprinkle the orange zest over the top of the lentil salad.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat the ingredients evenly.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
Lovely recipe very healthy and attractive, I like the presentation with orange segments on top.
John says
Very well done, thanks for this delicious healthy recipe full of colors it looks great