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    Home » Mediterranean recipes

    Mediterranean Lentil Salad Recipe

    Published: Aug 20, 2019 · Modified: Mar 17, 2021 by Shadi HasanzadeNemati · This post may contain affiliate links .

    3337 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Mediterranean lentil salad is healthy and very easy to make. Loaded with delicious vegetables, this salad is ready in about 30 minutes!

    This Mediterranean lentil salad is a healthy salad that's very easy to make. Loaded with delicious vegetables, this vegetarian salad is perfect for lunch.

    Nothing beats a large bowl of fresh and delicious salad. Fortunately, Mediterranean cuisine has so many tasty salads that are delicious, fresh and easy to make. Be sure to check out our Mediterranean style salads such as Greek salad, cucumber tomato feta salad and our famous tabouli salad that vanishes every time it comes to the table! 

    Table Of Contents:
    • A healthy salad with lentils 
    • Ingredients
    • What kind of lentils to use
    • Instructions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Other additions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing the leftovers
    • More lentil recipes
    • Step-by-Step Recipe

    A healthy salad with lentils 

    Today I'm going to show you how to make Mediterranean lentil salad with hearty lentils and just a few vegetables. This is an easy salad that you can have as a side dish or simply as a light lunch. 

    There are a few reasons that I think this healthy salad should be on your meal plan:

    1. It's vegan and makes a perfect meal or side dish for any vegan friends that you're going to have over for dinner. 
    2. This salad is perfect for meal prep. You can make a big batch and enjoy it through the week. 
    3. It's extremely versatile and you can add or leave out any ingredient you see here. 
    4. This healthy salad is flavored with a delicious oregano lemon dressing that's so easy to make and gives this homemade lentil salad so much flavor. 
    An easy cold salad made with lentils that you can have as a light lunch as well.

    Ingredients

    To make this easy salad, you need the following ingredients: 

    • Lentils: You can use green or brown lentils for this recipe.  
    • Red onion: I prefer red onion to white or yellow onion to use in salads since they have better flavor in salads. 
    • Olives: You can use both green or black olives. I love using kalamata or Turkish black olives. I suggest you ditch the canned olives and get the jarred ones or, even better, shop for olives at the Mediterranean bar of your local supermarket. 
    • Cucumbers: As always, I go for Persian or mini cucumbers since they are more flavorful and don't have big seeds. 
    • Tomatoes: Roma tomatoes work well for this recipe. Use firm tomatoes so you can chop them easily. 
    • Herbs: For this recipe use parsley and dill. Both flat leaf or curly parsley would work in this recipe. 
    Ingredients shot contains herbs, salt, olives, lemon, onion, tomatoes, lentils, cucumbers and spices.

    When it comes to making salads, I try to use the freshest ingredients I can find since vegetables are going to be used raw and need to have great quality and taste. You can shop for organic veggies or visit your local farmers market for good vegetables. 

    What kind of lentils to use

    Lentils come in so many colors, shapes and sizes. The typical green lentils would work well for this recipe since they hold they're shape and are easy to stir and mix. You can find green lentils at any supermarket. You can also use brown lentils for this recipe but not red lentils since they lose their shape when cooked and become mushy. Read more about different types of lentils on The Kitchn. 

    Are lentils gluten free?

    Since lentils are allowed by law to contain a certain percentage of foreign grain such as rye and wheat, it's important to check the packaging to make sure they are gluten free, meaning they have less than 20 ppm of gluten. If you eat gluten free or you are gluten intolerant, please make sure to check the packaging before making a purchase.  

    Instructions

    • To cook lentils, place them in a sauce pan and rinse them a few times with cold water. Pour enough water to cover the lentils and add one teaspoon salt to the water. 
    • Bring the lentils to a rolling boil and simmer covered until they are completely cooked. This will take about 20 to 30 minutes. Drain the excess water and let them cool before adding them to the salad. 
    • Chop the red onions, cucumber and tomatoes and place them in a large bowl Add the cooked lentils, olives, chopped parsley and dill.
    • To make the lemon oregano dressing, mix lemon juice, oregano, sumac, cayenne pepper and salt in a small jar, pour it over the salad and give it a toss. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes and serve cold. 
    Cook the lentils then add tomatoes and onions. Add dill and cucumbers and toss. Make the dressing and pour over the salad.

    Frequently asked questions

    How can I know if the lentils are cooked? 

    Cooked lentils are easy to chew and you can mash them easily. If the lentils are hard, they need to be cooked more. In that case, add more water to the lentils and keep cooking them. 

    Can I use canned lentils? 

    Technically, you can use canned lentils. However, my personal preference is to use lentils that I cook at home since I know there are no preservatives or additives added to the lentils. 

    Can I make this salad ahead of time? 

    Since we use fresh tomatoes and cucumbers in this cold lentil salad recipe, I suggest you make this salad on the day you would like to serve it. If you want to save time, cook the lentils and store them in an airtight container for the week and whenever you're ready to eat, simply chop up whatever vegetables you have at hand and mix with the lentils. You can also make the dressing in advance and just give it a shake before adding it to the salad. 

    Can I freeze lentils?

    Absolutely! Lentils freeze so well and you can use them any time you want. Portion the cooked lentils out and divide them between freezer safe bags. You can freeze lentils for up to two months. To use them in salads, it's best to thaw them in the fridge overnight or simply defrost them in the microwave.

    Two bowls of Greek lentil salad with lemon slices and a bunch of parsley.

    Other additions

    You can add other ingredients such as cheese and different vegetables to this easy and quick lentils salad. Some of my favorite additions are: 

    • Red or yellow bell peppers
    • Feta cheese 
    • Grilled halloumi cheese
    • Spinach 
    • Pomegranate
    • Sun-dried tomatoes
    • Walnuts 

    Serving suggestions

    This cold lentil salad can be served as a nice side dish to different dishes such as Mediterranean chicken, pan seared salmon, beef shish kabob or baked dijon salmon. You can also have it as a light lunch or dinner on its own or with a slice of crusty bread such as sourdough. 

    Storing the leftovers

    Since this hearty lentil salad contains tomatoes and cucumbers, it's best to have it right away. However, you can also store leftovers in an airtight glass container for up to two days. I don't suggest freezing this salad because of the fresh vegetables. 

    close up shot of two bowls of cold salad with lemon slices and a cup of salt.

    Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!

    More lentil recipes

    • Easy Chicken Lentil Soup Recipe
    • Easy Mediterranean Green Lentil Soup
    • Mujadara - Lebanese Lentils and Rice with Crispy Onions
    • Adasi Persian Lentil Soup Recipe

    Step-by-Step Recipe

    Mediterranean Lentil Salad Recipe

    Shadi HasanzadeNemati
    This Mediterranean lentil salad is healthy and very easy to make. Loaded with delicious vegetables, this salad is ready in about 30 minutes!
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine Mediterranean
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 418 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ½ cup green lentils rinsed
    • 1 red onion chopped
    • ½ cup olives Green or kalamata
    • 2 Persian cucumbers chopped
    • 2 Roma tomatoes diced
    • ½ cup parsley chopped
    • ½ cup dill chopped

    Lemon oregano dressing

    • 1 lemon juice of
    • ¼ cup olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon sumac
    • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Place the lentils in a sauce pan and pour enough water to cover the lentils. Add 1 teaspoon salt and place the sauce pan over medium heat. Bring it to a rolling boil and cover. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes until the lentils are completely cooked. You know they're cooked when they're easy to chew.
    • Once the lentils are cooked, drain and discard the excess water and let the lentils cool completely.
    • In a large bowl mix cooled lentils with red onion, olives, cucumber, tomatoes, parsley and dill.
    • Drizzle the dressing over the salad and give it a nice stir to make sure all the ingredients are well combined.
    • Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for a few minutes before serving.

    Lemon oregano dressing

    • In a jar mix lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, sumac, cayenne and salt. Seal the jar and shake it well before using it.

    Video

    Notes

    • You can use green or brown lentils for this recipe. However, red lentils don't work for this recipe since they lose their shape when cooked. 
    • It's best to use jarred olives or olives purchased at the Mediterranean bar of your local supermarket for this recipe. Canned olives don't have as much flavor as marinated ones. 
    • Since this hearty lentil salad contains tomatoes and cucumbers, it's best to have it right away. However, you can also store leftovers in an airtight glass container for up to two days. I don't suggest freezing this salad because of the fresh vegetables. 
    • You can cook the lentils 2 days in advance and assemble the salad right before serving. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 418kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 19gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 569mgPotassium: 940mgFiber: 24gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1585IUVitamin C: 40mgCalcium: 99mgIron: 7mg
    Did you make this recipe? Let us know how it was by leaving a comment and a 5-star review!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Izzy

      April 23, 2021 at 11:27 pm

      5 stars
      I've never tried lentils in a salad before, but this recipe looks so tasty that I'm excited to try it out. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    2. Nellie Tracy

      October 14, 2019 at 8:26 pm

      5 stars
      DELICIOUS! Love this salad for fall!

      Reply
    3. Cindy

      October 14, 2019 at 7:34 pm

      5 stars
      Are any lentils ok for this recipe, like beluga lentils but not red ones of course

      Reply

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