With spring officially here, it’s time to bring out the all-purpose salads that are perfect accompaniments to any brunch, shower, or potluck spread. AND, at the same time, they can double as a quick side dish for weeknight dinners or a quick, on-the-go lunch. All-purpose…it’s not just for flour!
The sign of a good salad in our house? We skip the plate altogether and with a fork in hand, go right for the Tupperware container in the fridge. Normally, this style of eating might get you in trouble, but luckily for us, this salad is full of healthy ingredients!
This Balsamic Lentil Salad is the ultimate all-purpose spring salad because it’s all about that fresh crunch from the chopped cucumber and sweet red bell pepper. Together with the lovely little beans we call lentils and the rich and tangy balsamic dressing, this salad is hearty, tangy, and light all at the same time.
The thought of a lentil salad might seem intimidating. But as mentioned before, lentils are just tiny beans that cook up like pasta. Plus, check out the simple ingredient list…cucumber, red pepper, onion, lentils, and dressing. Once the lentils are cooked, this salad comes together quickly. Even better, this one’s customizable. Keep the lentils as the base and add your favorite chopped, raw veggies. Carrots, celery, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli…so many options! And one thing I might add next time around? Feta cheese. Or Parmesan cheese. Or gorgonzola. Goat cheese, maybe? You get the picture.
Let this easy Balsamic Lentil Salad be your go-to dish for spring! Need a dinner idea for this week? Try the salad alongside this Roasted Salmon with Tomato Basil Relish.
- 3 ½ cups cooked lentils
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 cucumber, diced
- ¼ red onion or shallot, finely chopped
- ⅓ cup fresh chopped parsley
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ½ clove garlic, chopped
- Dash of salt and pepper
- In a large bowl, combine the lentils, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, and parsley.
- Combine all the dressing ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Alternatively, you can whisk the ingredients together in a bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
Nutrition Information (per serving) from Caloriecount.about.com
Calories: 124 Fat: 1.3g Carb: 20.6g Fiber: 7.5g Protein: 8.3g Sugar 3.7g Sodium: 217mg
Hi! I'm Krista, a self-proclaimed vegetable lover who likes to put a creative spin on healthy cooking. Here you'll find a variety of lightened up recipes using fresh and wholesome ingredients! 
This looks fantastic – and so fresh! I love lentils but am sometimes hard-pressed for new recipes to try with them. Yum!
Thanks so much! Yes, this one’s definitely a good dish for spring!
Which lentils did you use here?
Hi Tanya, I used green lentils.
Hi, just looking for a simple lentil recipe & this sounds perfect, would it work with red lentils? Thnx kim
Hi Kim, I haven’t tried the recipe with red lentils. I’ve only used red lentils in soups and stews and have noticed that they cook down really easily and become mushy, which is great for a soup, but not so much for a salad. I’d recommend using brown or green lentils. Thanks for the comment!
Delicious and quick to make!
So great to hear Ann! Thanks for the comment!
Great recipe!!
Thanks so much Kelsey!
Hi, does this freeze well?
Hi, I haven’t tried freezing this salad. My guess is that the lentils might have a mushy texture when defrosted. Thanks for the question!
Thank you for this yummy recipe. It was quick and easy and I loved the dressing.
You’re so welcome! I’m happy you enjoyed it!
The dressing ratios are way off- 1/4 cup of vinegar to 1/2 tbsp of olive oil? Plus a teaspoon of mustard?? It was way too acidic! Did I miss something?
Hi Sarah, nope you didn’t miss anything. I generally like my dressings really tangy and acidic so I lessen the amount of oil. But I definitely appreciate that others may not prefer the taste so no issues with adjusting the amounts to your liking. Thanks for the comment!
I love this fresh new take on a cold salad!! It tastes so good! Who knew lentils tasted good cold. 😀
Right?! I’m so glad you liked it Melanie!
I was looking for a lentil salad to prep on Sunday to take to work for lunch. This is such a simple recipe but the taste is bold and refreshing. The only deviation to the recipe that I made was substituting the maple syrup with orange blossom honey only because I don’t usually have maple syrup on hand.
Thank you for sharing!
Orange blossom honey?! Sounds amazing! Thanks so much for giving my recipe a try and reporting back!