Description
A vibrant medley of tender lentils, crisp veggies, juicy apple, chewy cranberries and fresh herbs, all tossed in a warm-spiced lemon-cumin dressing. Thanks to canned lentils, this plant-powered, protein-packed salad comes together in just 15 minutes—perfect for busy weeknights or make-ahead lunches.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 15 oz cans Canned lentils (Brown or green; drain & rinse very well)
- 1/2 cup Red onion diced
- 1/3 cup Red bell pepper diced
- 1 medium Apple diced (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji)
- 1/4 cup Fresh cilantro chopped
- 1/4 cup Fresh mint chopped
- 3/4 cup Dried cranberries
For the Spiced Lemon Dressing
- Zest from 1 Lemon
- Juice from 1 Lemon
- 3 Tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Honey (Or maple syrup for vegan option)
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp Curry powder
- 2 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp Olive oil
Instructions
Prep Your Produce:
- Finely dice the red onion, bell pepper, and apple.
- Roughly chop the cilantro and mint.
- Zest then juice the lemon.
Whisk the Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together lemon zest, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, honey, cumin, cinnamon, curry powder, salt, and olive oil until smooth.
Toss the Salad
- In a large bowl, combine the drained lentils, diced onion, bell pepper, apple, cilantro, mint, and dried cranberries.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and gently stir until everything is evenly coated.
Chill & Serve (Optional but recommended)
- Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Give the salad a final stir, taste and adjust seasoning if needed, and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Notes
-
Immediate Serve: You can enjoy it right away—no chill time required.
-
Make-Ahead: Assembled salad can be stored, covered, in the fridge up to 24 hours; reserve fresh herbs to stir in just before serving if you prefer.
-
Variations: Stir in chopped nuts (like pistachios) or seeds (sunflower, pumpkin) for extra crunch.
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Substitutions: Swap curry powder for a pinch of smoked paprika for a different spice profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Vegan, Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Calories: 290
