Lentil Salad with Feta and Lemon Dressing
Lentils, feta, cucumber, and kalamata olives come together with a bright lemon and za'atar dressing. Let it rest for 30 minutes before serving and the lentils soak up all that flavor.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 393kcal
Ingredients
Dressing
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- zest of one lemon
- 3 garlic cloves grated
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon za'atar or Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin optional
- freshly ground pepper
Salad
- 2 ½ cups cooked lentils from 1 cup uncooked
- 3 Persian cucumbers thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
- ½ cup arugula slightly chopped
- ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
- ¼ cup red onion chopped
- ½ cup hearts of palm thinly sliced
- ½ cup kalamata olives or green olives pitted and halved
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- ¼ cup fresh mint chopped
Instructions
- Make the dressing by whisking together the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, dijon mustard, za'atar, salt, cumin, and pepper. Set aside.
- Assemble the salad by placing the lentils and vegetables into a bowl.
- Add the dressing and toss to combine.
- Add the herbs and toss again. Season to taste and serve.
Notes
Trust me on this one: let the salad rest for at least 30 minutes after dressing, longer if you have time. The lentils act almost like a sponge and pull in the lemon and za'atar flavor as they sit, so it tastes noticeably better than eating it the moment you toss it. If you're making this for company, dress it an hour or two ahead and let it sit at room temp or in the fridge.
Stick with green or French lentils here. Red lentils cook down too soft and won't hold their shape once they're tossed with the dressing.
This keeps well for 2 days in the fridge. The arugula and cucumber lose their crispness after that, so it's best eaten within that window rather than treated as a full week of meal prep.
Nutrition
Calories: 393kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 1086mg | Potassium: 1175mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 778IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 6mg
