• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Greenbowl2soul
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Drinks
    • Snacks
    • Side dishes
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Main course
    • Sweet Treats
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact Us
×

Home » Salads

Quinoa salad with lentils and tomatoes

Published: Apr 24, 2022 by Vandana Chauhan. This post may contain affiliate links.

84 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
Jump to Recipe

Quinoa salad with lentils and tomatoes- a simple salad loaded with delicious ingredients and textures. It's a great option to pack for lunch, picnic, and potlucks. This protein-rich salad is vegan and gluten-free.

lentil quinoa salad with tomatoes on a white plate

One of my favorite ingredients to use as a base in salads is quinoa.

It not only soaks all the delicious flavors of the ingredients used but also gives a very nice chewy texture to the salads.

I have already shared a lot of easy quinoa salad recipes on my blog and today I am sharing the recipe for another delicious quinoa salad with lentils and cherry tomatoes.

Jump to:
  • What goes in lentil quinoa salad?
  • Ingredient notes
  • How to make (step by step process)?
  • How to cook green lentils from scratch?
  • Serving suggestions
  • How to store?
  • Can you freeze this quinoa salad?
  • Recipe tips and tricks
  • Frequently asked questions
  • More easy quinoa recipes
  • Recipe

What goes in lentil quinoa salad?

To make this lentilquinoa salad, you will be needing the ingredients shown below:

labelled ingredients for lentil quinoa salad dressing.
labelled ingredients for lentil quinoa salad.

Ingredient notes

  • Lentils: I have used green lentils which I have cooked at home from scratch. You can also use brown lentils. If you don't want to cook lentils at home, use canned lentils. However, rinse them before using to get rid of their metallic taste.
  • Quinoa: Feel free to use any variety of your choice. I have used red quinoa.
  • Cherry tomatoes: If you don't have cherry tomatoes, use regular ones.
  • Scallion: Spring onion greens can be used too. You may also skip it and add fresh herbs of your choice.
  • Pepitas: Feel free to use nuts and seeds of your choice.

How to make (step by step process)?

collage of images of steps 1 to 4 of quinoa lentil salad recipe.

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.

collage of images of steps 5 to 8 of quinoa lentil salad recipe.

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

Step 6: Prepare salad dressing in a 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.

Your delicious lentil quinoa salad with cherry tomatoes is ready to be enjoyed!

lentil quinoa salad with tomatoes on a white plate with more salad and lemon wedges.

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:

collage of steps of cooking green lentils from scratch.

Step 1: Rinse ⅓ cup 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: ⅓ cup uncooked lentils will yield around 3 cups of cooked lentils.

Serving suggestions

This quinoa lentil tomato salad can be served as a refreshing summer salad or as a light meal.

You can also stuff it in your warps or use it in your quinoa bowl.

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?

No, you can not freeze the assembled quinoa salad as it has raw vegetables which won't remain crunchy on getting thawed.

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.
  • 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 stock too. It will make the salad more flavorful.

Frequently asked questions

Can it be made with brown lentils too?

Yes, quinoa lentil salad can be made with brown lentils too. However, cook them carefully as they turn mushy more easily. The texture of green lentils is better for salads.

Is it fine to use canned lentils?

Yes, canned lentils can be used in this recipe. However, make sure to rinse them properly to get rid of the metallic taste.

Can you freeze cooked quinoa?

Yes, cooked quinoa can be frozen for 3-4 months.

Can cooked green lentils be frozen?

Yes, cooked green lentils can also be frozen for 3-4 months

More easy quinoa recipes

Looking for more ideas to add quinoa to your diet? Don't miss checking the following easy quinoa recipes?

  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

If you try any of my recipes, please rate ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ it on the recipe card and also leave your feedback in the comments section below. You can also follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and subscribe to my youtube channel.

Recipe

vegan lentil quinoa salad on a white plate.

Quinoa salad with lentils and tomatoes

Quinoa salad with lentils and tomatoes- a simple salad loaded with delicious ingredients and textures. It's a great option to pack for lunch, picnic, and potlucks. This protein-rich salad is vegan and gluten-free.
5 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Making time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 5
Calories: 253kcal
Author: Vandana Chauhan

Equipment

  • 1 Cooking pot
  • 1 Salad bowl

Ingredients

  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • 1 cup water to cook quinoa
  • 1 cup cooked green lentils
  • 1 small bell pepper chopped
  • 1 medium-sized cucumber chopped
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
  • ¼ cup roughly chopped cilantro
  • ¼ cup roughly chopped scallion
  • 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

Ingredients for the dressing

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons maple syrup adjust to taste
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon chili flakes
  • Ground black pepper to taste
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

Cook quinoa

  • Rinse quinoa and put it in a cooking pot along with water.
  • Cook uncovered for around 15-20 minutes or until all the water gets absorbed.
  • Switch off the stove and cover the pot with a lid. Don't remove the lid for at least 5 minutes.
  • After 5 minutes, remove the lid and fluff quinoa with a fork.

Prepare salad dressing

  • Put all the dressing ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

Make salad

  • Put all the ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Pour salad dressing.
  • Toss.
  • Check and adjust the seasoning. Enjoy your refreshing quinoa lentil salad with tomatoes.

Notes

  1. Instead of green lentils, brown lentils can be used too.
  2. Don't overcook the lentils otherwise, they will turn mushy.
  3. Any type of quinoa is fine to be used in this salad.
  4. If you don't have cherry tomatoes, use regular tomatoes.
  5. More easy recipe tips and tricks are given within the post above, please follow them to make this recipe.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 591mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1028IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Tag me on instagram #greenbowl2soul

More Salads

  • Close up shot of Greek orzo salad with feta.
    Orzo salad with feta
  • Paneer salad garnished with mint leaves served in a black bowl.
    Paneer salad
  • Sundried tomato pasta salad in a bowl.
    Sundried tomato pasta salad
  • Indian onion salad garnished with mint leaves in a small bowl.
    Onion salad (lachha pyaz)

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Vandana Chauhan profile picture

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog. My name is Vandana Chauhan and I am on a mission to explore vegan/ vegetarian recipes from around the world. I am delighted to welcome you to join me on this exciting journey.

More about me →

Popular recipes

  • Mixed bean salad balela served in a white bowl.
    Mixed bean salad balela (Middle Eastern style)
  • Chili oil getting drizzled over a bowl of chili garlic noodles with a spoon
    Garlic chili oil noodles
  • four savoury muffins kept on a whote plate with some corn kernels in the background
    Vegan savoury muffins with tomato, corn, and caramelized onion
  • Veg chow mein served on a white plate with a fork.
    Vegetable chow mein
  • A slice of peach cobbler served on a white plate
    Easy peach cobbler with canned peaches
  • Indian vegetable curry in a bowl with rice, lime, and fresh herbs in the background
    Indian vegetable curry

Seasonal favorites

  • two glasses of virgin pina colada decorated with pineapple chunks and pink straw with a bowl of pineapple chunks on the side.
    Virgin pina colada(Non alcoholic pina colada)
  • Close up shot of mango chia seeds pudding in a glass with a spoon.
    Mango chia seeds pudding
  • Greek style watermelon salad served in a grey bowl
    Greek watermelon feta salad
  • Three glasses of watermelon lemonade with white straws, garnished with mint leaves and lemon wedges
    Watermelon lemonade
  • Close up shot of Greek orzo salad with feta.
    Orzo salad with feta
  • Sundried tomato pasta salad in a bowl.
    Sundried tomato pasta salad

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • About

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 Greenbowl2soul

84 shares
Scroll Up