Appetizers / Soups / Salads

Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette is for Salad.

Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette takes 10 minutes to prepare.

Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette takes 20 minutes to cook.

Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette makes 6 servings.

The ingredients for Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette are:

Salad:
- 1.5 cups French green lentils (de Puy) checked for stones and rinsed
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt
- 1 carrot, peeled and shredded
- 1 red bell peper, cored and finely diced
- 1/4 cup chopped scallion greens or minced parsley
- 1/2 cup raisins, roughly chopped
- 1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped (i often don't bother with toasting and it's still good)

Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3/4 tsp kosher or sea salt
- Pepper

Here is how you make Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette:

Fill a large saucepan with water, add the lentils and bay leaf; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until lentils are cooked, about 18 to 20 minutes. The lentils should be tender, but still holding their shape (not mushy). Drain lentils well, add a few pinches of salt and shake a few times as they cool to release steam.When cool, combine the lentils, carrot, red bell pepper, scallions or parsley, and raisins in a serving bowl.To make the dressing, in a separate bowl, whisk together the vinegar, lemon juice, maple syrup, olive oil, salt and pepper. This salad tastes best at room temperature on the day it's made (but is still delicious the next day after marinating in the fridge). When ready to serve, add the dressing to the salad and mix well. Garnish with chopped walnuts.Serves 6 to 8 (nutritional info is for 6)Variations (not included in nutritional info):Add some cooked chickpeas. Or give the salad a Middle Eastern twist by reducing the maple syrup and balsamic vinegar, and adding more lemon juice, plus ground cumin and coriander, and either minced parsley or cilantro to taste.Number of Servings: 6Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user ONEFOOD.

The nutritional information for Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette is:

• Servings Per Recipe: 6
• Amount Per Serving
• Calories: 395.7

• Total Fat: 26.9 g
• Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
• Sodium: 306.2 mg
• Total Carbs: 34.3 g
• Dietary Fiber: 8.0 g
• Protein: 10.0 g

The dietary needs meet for Lentil Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette is Vegetarian