Greek Lentil Salad
Greek Lentil Salad is tasty and healthy too! Lentils, surrounded by feta cheese, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes and onions in a red wine vinaigrette!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Chill Time30 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 261kcal
Salad
- 1 ½ cups cucumber, seeded if necessary, diced
- 1 ½ cups peppers, any color, diced
- 1 ½ cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup sweet, purple or red onion, diced
- 1 can (15 oz) lentils rinsed and drained, any color
- ¾-1 cup feta cheese, crumbled optional, more or less to taste
- kalmata olives optional, sliced or chopped
Rinse and allow lentils to drain. Set aside.
In a salad dressing holder or bowl with a lid, place olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper. Give mixture a shake and set aside.
In a large bowl add diced cucumber, peppers, onion and tomatoes. Add drained lentils and stir to combine. When serving add crumbled feta and enough dressing to coat.
- Rinse and drain canned lentils well: This removes excess sodium and prevents the salad from becoming watery.
- Use crisp, fresh vegetables: English cucumber and firm tomatoes help keep the salad fresh and crunchy longer.
- Let the salad chill before serving: Even 30 minutes helps the lentils absorb the dressing and deepens the Mediterranean flavors.
- Add feta just before serving, if using: This keeps the cheese fresh and crumbly instead of softening too much in the dressing.
- Taste and adjust before serving: Chilled salads often need a pinch of salt, or fresh pepper to brighten the flavors.
- Don’t overdress at first: Start with part of the dressing and add more as needed so the salad stays flavorful, not soggy.
Calories: 261kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 22mg | Sodium: 488mg | Potassium: 269mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 462IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 157mg | Iron: 1mg