Cilantro Lime Lentil Salad
Looking for a filling salad that’s truly refreshing? This Cilantro Lime Lentil Salad checks all those boxes! Cooked lentils pair well with crunchy radishes and green onions. Tossed with an easy cilantro lime vinaigrette and it’s truly so refreshing. The best part is that this salad get’s better with time! Let it sit in the fridge for a day or two so the lentils soak up all the delicious cilantro lime vinaigrette!
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Lentil Salad Requires the Right Lentils
Let me start by saying lentils are truly underrated! I could be biased since I love anything from the legume family, but truly they’re so good. Honestly, growing up we didn’t really eat lentils in my house, which is odd since they’re cheap! I may have eaten lentil soup in my vegetarian days, but I don’t really remember. So over the last several years I’ve eaten a lot of lentils to make up for lost time.
With that being said, lentils come in green, brown, black, red, and yellow varieties. For any type of salad, such as this one; green, brown, or black lentils are the kind you should use. All three are about the same as far as cooking time. Red or yellow lentils just don’t work here. They’re softer and are better suited for soups & curries. French Green Lentils are the easiest for me to find so that’s the variety used in this Cilantro Lime Lentil Salad. Green Lentils are definitely my preference when it comes to lentil salad. Though, feel free to use brown or black lentils as well.
Not Your Average Lentil Salad
Part of what makes this Cilantro Lime Lentil Salad so good is that it’s a simple salad. Lentils, sliced radishes, green onions, and the dressing is all that’s in this salad. Often times a legume based salad includes lots of chopped vegetables. Although I love those type of salads, I’ll admit I don’t always love all the veggie prep. So I created this with the intention of it being easy to throw together. So radishes and green onions are a perfect pairing alongside the cilantro lime vinaigrette
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
If you follow my Instagram page, then you know I signed up to receive a local CSA Veggie Box through the Farmer’s Market this summer. We’re several weeks in and I love love love the program! Green onions & cilantro came in the box a few weeks back and I wanted to challenge myself to not just use them as a garnish. Then dawned on me I had a few sad limes and could make a vinaigrette. Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette always reminds me of the day’s I worked at Ruby Tuesday. They introduced a Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette when their salad bar got a makeover a few years ago. My bestie Jessica and I were obsessed with it. It’s truly one of the only thing I miss about that place, aside from old co-workers.
Very Customizable Vinaigrette
Vinaigrettes are hand’s down my preferred salad dressing. They can be sweet, tangy, bright, herby, and all of the above. Of course, my boyfriend and I are total opposites and he hates most vinaigrettes. He’s not one who like a lot of acid, or tanginess in his food. Honestly, it drives me a bit insane! So, I’ve slowly been trying to convert him into liking vinaigrettes. Which is why this Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette is perfect! For those that want it sweeter add more honey or sweetener of choice. Limes are not as sour as lemons in my opinion so they’re easier to mellow out. If you want the dressing brighter, just add more lime juice! Either way it’s easy to achieve a dressing perfectly suited to your taste.
I hope you give this Cilantro Lime Lentil Salad a try! It’s great all on it’s own or as a side dish. Keep it on hand for quick lunches and dinner all summer long. If you make this recipe, don’t for get to leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Cilantro Lime Lentil Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 1 cup uncooked green or brown lentils see notes if using cooked lentils
- 1 small bundle of red radishes, thinly sliced about 6-8 radishes
- 3-4 green onions, chopped
- Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
- 1/2 lb Cilantro, about half a bundle washed. Use stems and leaves.
- 3 Limes about 1/4 cup lime juice
- 1/4 cup Honey or Agave
- 2 tsps Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 cup olive, avocado, or any neutral oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
Wash & Cook Lentils
- Pick through 1 cup of green or browns lentils and make sure to remove and rocks, or odd pieces. Then place lentils into a strainer and give them a quick rinse just to make sure they're free of any dust.
- Place 1 cup of rinsed lentils into a medium saucepan with 4 cups of water and a large pinch of salt.
- Bring pot to a boil to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling reduce heat to low, allowing the lentils to simmer gently uncovered for about 20 minutes.
- Lentils are done when they're tender, but not mushy.
- Strain cooked lentils and quickly rinse with cold water. Set aside to drain & remove any excess moisture.
Make Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
- While the lentils cook, make the dressing.
- In the bowl of a food processor or blender add in cilantro, lime juice, Dijon mustard, honey or agave, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Pulse or blend mixture until cilantro is finely chopped and everything is well incorporated, about 10-15 long pulses.
- Set the food processor to low and then slowly stream in 1/2 cup of oil of your choice. Taste vinaigrette and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.
Make the Salad
- In a large bowl combine cooked lentils, sliced radishes, chopped green onions, and all of the cilantro lime vinaigrette. Gently toss to combine.
- Transfer salad to an air-tight container and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Eat & Enjoy! Cilantro Lime Lentil Salad should keep in the fridge for at least 5 days.