Lentil quinoa salad with cherry tomatoes

What goes in lentil quinoa salad?

To make this hearty lentils and quinoa salad, you will need the ingredients shown below:

Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions

• Olive oil: Use good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
• Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar adds a rich sweet-tangy flavor. You can substitute it with red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. Each will give the dressing a slightly different taste.
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup balances the acidity of the dressing. Honey can be used if you don't need the salad to be vegan. Agave syrup is another good vegan option.
• Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice brightens the entire salad. For extra citrus flavor, add a little lemon zest. Fresh lime juice can be used instead of lemon juice.
• Lentils:I have used home cooked green lentils. You can also use brown lentils and black lentils. While red lentils are nutritious, they tend to become soft and mushy, so they're not ideal for this salad. If using canned lentils, rinse them well before adding them to the salad.
• Quinoa: Feel free to use any variety of quinoa. I used red quinoa, but white quinoa or tricolor quinoa work equally well. You can also swap quinoa with any millet, couscous, bulgur, or brown rice.
• Cucumber: Cucumber adds freshness and crunch. English cucumber, Persian cucumber, or regular cucumber all work well. If using regular cucumber with large seeds, remove the seeds first.
• Cherry tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes add sweetness and color. If you don't have them, chopped roma tomatoes can also be used.
• Scallion: Scallions add a mild onion flavor without overpowering the salad. You can substitute them with spring onions, chives, or finely chopped red onion.
• Cilantro: Fresh cilantro gives the salad a bright, fresh flavor. If you're not a fan, substitute it with fresh parsley, dill, mint, basil, or a combination of your favorite fresh herbs.
• Pepitas (pumpkin seeds): Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) add crunch and nutrition. You can replace them with sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, pecans, or pistachios.

Other ingredient details and nutritional information are given in the recipe card.

How to make (step by step process)?

To make lentil quinoa salad recipe, just follow the easy step by step instructions given below:

Step 1: Rinse lentils and put them in a cooking pot.

Step 2: Add water.

Step 3: Cook uncovered until all the liquid gets absorbed. It will take around 15 minutes on medium flame.

Step 4: Switch off the stove and cover the pot with a lid for 5 minutes.

Step 5: After 5 minutes, remove the lid and fluff quinoa with a fork.

Step 6: Prepare salad dressing in a small bowl by mixing olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, lemon juice, dijon mustard, minced garlic, chili flakes, ground black pepper, and salt.

Step 7: Put all the ingredients in a large bowl.

Step 8: Toss. Check and adjust the seasoning.

That's it! Your delicious simple quinoa lentil salad is ready to serve.

How to cook green lentils from scratch?

If you want to use home-cooked green lentils and have never done that before, just follow the steps below:

Step 1: Rinse ⅓ cup + 2-3 tablespoons of lentils with water and put them in a pot.

Step 2: Add around 6 cups water and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix.

Steps 3 and 4: Cook covered on a medium flame for around 30-40 minutes or until the lentils are cooked. The lentils should get cooked but not lose shape. Strain the lentils if there is any extra liquid left. The liquid can be used later in soups

Note: 1 cup of uncooked lentils will yield around 2.5 cups of cooked lentils.

Serving lentil quinoa salad

This salad is incredibly versatile and can be served in many different ways.

Enjoy it as a light lunch on its own or serve it as a side dish with grilled vegetables, tofu, or veggie burgers.

You can also use it as a filling for lettuce wraps or pita pockets. It can also be added to a buddha bowl.

Serve it alongside soups for a more filling meal.

Add sliced avocado or roasted chickpeas on top for extra texture and nutrition.

Salad dressing variations

This salad works well with different dressings depending on your mood. Try:

• A classic lemon vinaigrette dressing
• A simple dressing of Italian herbs
• Dressing made with apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar
• Lemon tahini dressing
• Cilantro lime dressing

How to store?

Once made, it's best to use this salad within 24 hours.

If you are planning to store it for a longer period, don't add tomatoes and cucumbers. They start releasing water after getting mixed with salt and lemon, making the salad taste stale if left for a longer period.

Mix all the other ingredients and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Add cherry tomatoes and cucumber when you plan to serve.

Can you freeze this quinoa salad?

Freezing is not recommended once the fresh vegetables and dressing have been mixed in, as the vegetables can become watery after thawing.

However, cooked quinoa and lentils can be frozen separately for future use.

Meal prep tips

• Cook a large batch of quinoa and lentils at the beginning of the week.
• Chop the vegetables in advance and store them separately.
• Prepare the dressing up to 5 days ahead.
• Assemble individual portions in meal prep containers for grab-and-go lunches.
• Add delicate ingredients like avocado right before serving.

Recipe tips and tricks

• Season quinoa properly otherwise it will taste bland.
• Before rinsing lentils, always check them to make sure there is no debris.
• Allow the quinoa and lentils to cool completely before mixing to keep the vegetables crisp.
• To add more color and texture, you can use other fresh veggies and fruits like yellow, orange, or red bell pepper, purple cabbage, avocado, peaches, pineapple, strawberry, blueberries, grapes, etc.
• Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor. You can also add a little lemon zest for more refreshing flavor.
• You may add dried fruits like raisins, cranberries, or toasted nuts to this quinoa salad.
• Instead of cooking quinoa in water, it can be cooked in vegetable broth too. It will make the salad more flavorful.
• Chill the salad for 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to blend.

Frequently asked questions

More easy quinoa recipes

If you enjoy quinoa salads, you may also like:

1. Quinoa beet salad
2. Quinoa pulao
3. Healthy quinoa with vegetables
4. Quinoa fruit salad
5. Middle eastern style quinoa
6. Quinoa lentil soup
7. Curried quinoa
8. Edamame quinoa salad

More easy vegan salad recipes

Looking for more healthy and delicious vegan salads? Here are some of my favorite recipes that are great for lunch, dinner, meal prep, and potlucks.

1. Turkish red cabbage salad
2. Rainbow orzo salad
3. Indian chickpea salad
4. Fava bean and chickpea salad
5. Middle Eastern tomato parsley salad
6. Kachumber salad
7. Spicy Indian baby potato salad
8. Middle Eastern mixed bean salad- balela