serves 4
Ingredients
75g dried Puy lentils, rinsed OR use 250g pouch of ready cooked Puy lentils
1 small red onion, finely sliced
300g tomatoes, sliced
100g radishes, topped and tailed, sliced
20g fresh mint leaves, chopped
20g fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing
2 tbsp olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
splash of apple cider vinegar
2 tsp grainy mustard
1 tablespoon capers, chopped
½ tsp runny honey
Salt & pepper
Method
Cook the lentils in 3 x water or stock for 35-40 minutes, until soft but still with a little bite, drain and set aside in a large mixing bowl and let cool OR use a ready pouch of cooked Puy lentils if you are pushed for time
Add the sliced onions, tomatoes, radishes and fresh herbs and gently combine
Mix the dressing ingredients together thoroughly, season well, and pour over the salad
Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle a few fresh herbs over the top to finish
This dish works brilliantly as a side dish at a summer BBQ and is great to take to work as it will keep you feeling satisfied.
Lentils originate from Asia and North Africa and do not require pre-soaking before cooking, unlike other pulses. They are a great vegetarian / vegan protein source and also provide complex carbohydrate and fibre. They are a rich source of folate and a good source of other B vitamins and minerals.
Puy lentils are grown in the French region Le Puy, they have a delicious nutty taste and hold their texture well after cooking. You could easily use green or brown lentils in this recipe but the texture may be a little softer.
Tomatoes are delicious at this time of the year, smell your tomatoes to check they are tasty (no tomatoey smell = no flavour) and keep them out of the fridge to maximise flavour too. Tomatoes are a fantastic source of antioxidants, including lycopene and are a key ingredient of the healthy Mediterranean diet. They also contain vitamin C, biotin, molybdenum, vitamin K, vitamin A, minerals and B vitamins.
Radishes provide a lovely crunch to the salad and are also a great source of fibre for your gut microbes. They are a natural diuretic, helping to keep the urinary system healthy and are also great for relieving congestion and preventing respiratory problems.
