Long Lake Lentil Salad

By Leslie Blythe  ,   ,

July 11, 2015

This recipe comes from my friend Jacki. She calls it Long Lake Salad. Du Puy lentils or French green lentils were originally grown in the volcanic soils of Puy in France, but now they're also grown in North America and Italy. They're especially good in salads since they remain firm after cooking and have a rich flavor. They cook a bit slower than other lentils. I used golden raisins and dried apricots instead of currants and added goat cheese and toasted walnuts.

  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yields: 6 - 8 Servings

Ingredients

2¼ cups (1 pound) Du Puy lentils

1 medium red onion, finely diced

1 cup dried currants (you could also use raisins or other dried fruit)

⅓ cup capers

Vinaigrette

⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

1 Tablespoon maple syrup

1 Tablespoon strong mustard

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons pepper

1 teaspoon turmeric

½ teaspoon cardamom

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Optional add-ins

Arugula

Walnuts

Goat cheese

Fresh herbs: flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, basil

Sprouts

Crispy seasonal veggies

Directions

1Rinse lentils well, drain. Place in a pot and cover with 3-4 inches of water, bring to a boil, reduce to simmer. Check lentils for doneness after 15 minutes, but they should take about 20 minutes in total. You will know they are cooked if they still retain a slight tooth – al dente! Overcooking the lentils is the death of this dish. Be careful!

2While the lentils are simmering, make the dressing by placing all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake vigorously to combine.

3The ingredients should be about the same size. If using raisins, chop them roughly to make them a bit smaller, and do the same with the capers if they are large.

4When the lentils are cooked, remove from heat, drain and place under cold running water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled slightly but still a little warm, place lentils in a large serving bowl and toss with dressing. Add onion, capers, and currants. If using other add-ins such as herbs, greens, or cheese, wait until just before serving. Otherwise, this salad can hang out in the fridge for a couple of days.

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