• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Salads with Anastasia logo
  • SALAD RECIPES
  • COLLECTIONS
  • DRESSINGS
  • SALAD VEGGIES
  • ABOUT
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Home » Salads by Season » Summer Salads

Black Lentil Salad - perfect for picnics!

Made by Anastasia Papapetros - Serves 6 Filed Under: Dinner Salads, Make Ahead Salads, Salad Index, Summer Salads, Vegan

Share
Pin22
Tweet
Share

Shake up your traditional salad routine with this Black Lentil Salad; it features aromatic fresh herbs and nutty seeds it is super easy to put together. Packed with flavour, this colourful and nutritious salad is easy to make and packable for picnics and potlucks. 

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Black lentil salad on a ceramic plate with sesame seeds and mint sprigs on the side.

This Black Lentil Salad features a plethora of fresh herbs – fragrant mint, citrusy coriander and aromatic flat-leaf parsley and crunchy vegetables. A perfect match for the rich earthy flavour of the lentils and the nutty seeds.

This salad is perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. The black lentils are full of protein and are a great source of fibre. The Asian herbs add an amazingly fresh, aromatic flavour, and the red cabbage and shredded carrot add a nice crunch.

JUMP TO
  • Why Make This Lentil Recipe?
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • How to Cook Dry Lentils
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Tips and Questions
  • You May Also Like...
  • Recipe Card

Why Make This Lentil Recipe?

  • Easy - It takes no time at all, and the results are delicious. Perfect for a quick meal or as a side!
  • Packable - It is perfect for making ahead and grab-and-go lunches, picnics, and potlucks. 
  • Nutritious - the lentils are loaded with protein and fibre while the veggies and herbs provide a truckload of nutrients - vitamin K, beta carotene, potassium and antioxidants.

Ingredients and Substitutions

  • Black Lentils - form the base of this salad, you can either cook your own or use canned black lentils. They may also be swapped for brown or green lentils, but they will take longer to cook.
  • Red Cabbage - added for some crunch and for its vibrant purple colour. Swap for any type of cabbage you have on hand, or grated raw beets are also wonderful in this salad.
  • Carrot - used for a wonderful colour contrast and to boost the nutrition of this salad, try some grated raw sweet potato instead. 
  • Green Onions - add a slightly oniony flavour without overpowering the salad; swap for a red onion or yellow or white onion.
  • Herbs - we have used fresh mint and coriander/cilantro; you can swap for any other soft herbs - try parsley and dill.
  • Sesame Seeds - are used for some added texture and for their nutty flavour.
  • Salad Dressing - we have made a simple sesame lime vinaigrette for a more complex Asian flavour; try our Thai Vinaigrette or our Vietnamese dressing. 
Labelled ingredients needed to make a black lentil salad.

How to Cook Dry Lentils

First Step

Sift through the lentils to remove pebbles or other debris. Discard any lentils that are shrivelled or discoloured.

Place the lentils in a colander and rinse them under cold water; they will be clean when the water runs clear.

Hands sorting through lentils on a white plate.

SORT THROUGH LENTILS

Rinsing lentils at the kitchen sink with a strain.

RINSE IN THE SINK

Second Step

Transfer the clean lentils to a pot and cover them with water; you will need a hand span of water above the lentils.

Stir in two teaspoons of salt to bring out the earthy flavour of the lentils. 

Cover the lentils, but make sure you leave a gap between the lid and the pot; otherwise, they will boil over.

Rinsing lentils in a strainer until water runs clear at the kitchen sink..

UNTIL WATER RUNS CLEAR

Hands adding salt to a pot with lentils and water.

ADD TO A POT WITH WATER & SALT

Final Step

Bring them to a simmer and cook them over low heat, stirring occasionally, adding more liquid and removing the scum as needed.

Cook the black lentils until they are tender, approximately 20 minutes. 

When done, remove them from the stove, drain and rinse them under cold water until they are cool. 

Removing scum with a slotted spoon from boiling lentils.

REMOVE THE SCUM

Rinsing cooked lentils in a strainer under the sink.

DRAIN & RINSE WHEN COOKED

Step-by-Step Instructions

While your black lentils are simmering, you can get on with prepping the remaining ingredients.

Step 1 - Roast Seeds

Preheat your oven to 180C/356F, place your sesame seeds on a baking sheet and toast until golden brown (approximately 10-15 minutes).

Raw sesame seeds on a lined baking tray.

PLACE SESAME SEEDS ON A BAKING TRAY

Toasted sesame seeds on a lined baking tray.

ROAST SESAME SEEDS UNTIL GOLDEN

Step 2 - Chop the Veggies

Remove the outer damaged leaves of your red cabbage, give it a rinse, and remove the core of the cabbage.

Dice the cabbage into small pieces, place it in a colander and wash it under cold running water in the sink. 

Wash the carrot, trim it, peel it, and then coarsely grate it using a box grater. 

Hands dicing red cabbage on a wooden board.

DICE RED CABBAGE

Grating carrot with a box grater on a wooden board.

GRATE THE CARROT

Step 3 - Prep the Herbs and Onion

Wash your herbs and green onions, then pat them dry to remove the excess water.

Trim the onions and slice them thinly; cut off the coriander/cilantro stalks and roughly chop.

Strip the mint leaves and roughly chop.

Hands chopping green onions on a wooden board with a knife.

THINLY SLICE GREEN ONION

Chopping coriander, cilantro on a wooden board with a knife.

ROUGHLY CHOP CORIANDER/CILANTRO

Mint leaves stripped from stems on a wooden board.

STRIP MINT LEAVES FROM STEMS

Hands chopping mint on a wooden board with a knife.

ROUGHLY CHOP MINT LEAVES

Step 4 - Shake-up Dressing

Add all the vinaigrette ingredients to a glass jar. Season and shake until emulsified (well combined).

Sesame lime dressing ingredients in a glass jar.

ADD DRESSING INGREDIENTS TO JAR

Shaken sesame lime dressing.

SHAKE WELL TO COMBINE

Step 5 - Assemble the Salad

Place all the prepared ingredients and lentils in a large mixing bowl.

Season and pour over the dressing; mix everything until well combined.

Arrange in a salad bowl and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Prepared black lentil salad ingredients in a glass bowl.

ADD INGREDIENTS TO A BOWL

Pouring dressing over prepared black lentil salad ingredients in a glass bowl.

SEASON AND POUR OVER THE DRESSING

Mixing black lentil salad in a glass bowl with a spoon.

MIX WELL TO COMBINE

Black lentil salad on a ceramic plate with sesame seeds and mint sprigs on the side.

ARRANGE IN A SALAD BOWL

Serving Suggestions

This black lentil salad is perfect for a casual meal or picnic!

It makes a great side dish or a gluten-free, vegetarian main course that pairs perfectly with barbecued meats, especially lamb.

Or, if you're feeling adventurous, try it with an Indian curry, grilled salmon, lamb, pork or any poultry. I made this salad to go with my spicy lamb kofta and tzatziki, and it was a hit!

Tips and Questions

What are Black Lentils?

They are sometimes called black beluga lentils because of their resemblance to caviar. They are perfect for salads as they keep their shape when you cook them.
You should be able to find black lentils in large supermarkets with the other beans and legumes. Or, try a Middle Eastern speciality store.
You can substitute with green lentils, but they take longer to cook (up to 30-40 minutes in total).

Can I use brown or green lentils in this recipe?

Yes, you can use either, but they will take longer to cook and may turn mushy if you overcook them. 

Can I use canned black lentils for this salad?

Yes, you can; you will need four cups of cooked lentils to make this recipe.

Make-ahead Tips

  • You can boil the lentils several days in advance and store them covered in your fridge. Take them out when you are ready to assemble the salad and give them a quick rinse. 
  • You can roast your sesame seeds a week or more in advance. Cool and store them in a sealed container and store in a dark part of your pantry. If you are storing them longer than a week, then keep them in your fridge to prevent rancidity.
  • Make the dressing 1-2 days in advance and keep it in a sealed glass container in your fridge.
  • This salad is ideal for meal prep for your lunches throughout the week as it keeps well.

You can pop any leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge, and it should last for 4-5 days. 

Dietary Information

Our Beluga lentil salad is suitable for vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and nut-free. To make it gluten-free, substitute the soy sauce for coconut aminos.

Each serving has 497 calories with a net carb count of 36 grams.

You May Also Like...

Black eyed bean salad in a white bowl with basil sprigs and capers on side.

BLACK-EYED BEAN

WHITE BEAN SALAD CLOSE UP IN PORTRAIT

WHITE BEAN SALAD

COLOURFUL GARBANZO BEAN SALAD

GARBANZO BEANS

Recipe Card

Black lentil salad on a ceramic plate with sesame seeds and mint sprigs on the side.

Black Lentil Salad

Shake up your traditional salad routine with this Black Lentil Salad; it features aromatic fresh herbs and nutty seeds it is super easy to put together.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
* Times are an estimate and will depend on your skill level
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Australian, Middle Eastern
Keyword: Asian herbs, beluga lentil, black lentils, sesame
Difficulty: Capable Cooks
Diet: dairy free, Gluten free, Vegan, Vegetarian,
Servings: 6 as a side
Calories: 341kcal
Author: Anastasia Papapetros
Toggle to prevent your screen from going dark
Ingredients
For the salad…
  • 1 ½ cup dried black lentils (300 grams / 10.6 ounces; 4 cups cooked black lentils cooked 600 grams / 21.2 ounces)
  • 2 cups red cabbage, chopped (approximately 200 grams / 7 ounces)
  • 1 small carrot (approximately 120 grams / 4.2 ounces 1 ½ cup grated)
  • 1 bunch coriander ( ½ cups chopped)
  • 1 bunch mint (1 cup chopped)
  • 2 green onions (½ cup sliced)
  • 4 tablespoons sesame seeds
For the dressing…
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • â…“ cup lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds toasted
Instructions
Step 1 - Cook the Black Lentils
  • Sift through the lentils to remove pebbles or other debris. Discard any lentils that are shrivelled or discoloured.
  • Place the lentils in a colander and rinse them under cold water, they will be clean when the water runs clear.
  • Transfer the clean lentils to a pot and cover them with water you will need a handspan of water above the lentils.
  • Stir in a teaspoon of salt to bring out the earthy flavour of the lentils.
  • Cover the lentils, but make sure you leave a gap between the lid and the pot; otherwise, they will boil over.
  • Bring them to a simmer and cook them over low heat, stirring occasionally, adding more liquid and removing the scum as needed.
  • Cook the black lentils until they are tender, approximately 20 minutes.
  • When done, remove them from the stove, drain and rinse them until cold water to cool.
Step 2 - Roast Seeds
  • Preheat your oven to 180C/356F, place your sesame seeds on a baking sheet and toast until golden brown (approximately 10-15 minutes).
Step 3 - Chop the Veggies
  • Remove the outer damaged leaves of your red cabbage, give it a rinse, remove the core of the cabbage.
  • Dice the cabbage into small pieces, place it in a colander and wash it under cold running water in the sink.
  • Wash the carrot, trim it, peel it, then coarsely grate it using a box grater.
Step 4 - Prep the Herbs and Onion
  • Washyour herbs and green onions, pat them dry to remove the excess water.
  • Trim the onions and thinly slice them, cut off the coriander/cilantro stalks and chop roughly.
  • Strip the mint leaves and chop roughly.
Step 5 - Shake-up Dressing
  • Add all the vinaigrette ingredients to a glass jar.
  • Season and shake until emulsified (well combined).
Step 6 - Assemble the Salad
  • Place all the prepared ingredients and lentils in a large mixing bowl.
  • Season and pour over the dressing, mix everything until well to combine.
  • Arrange in a salad bowl and keep chilled until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

  1. You should be able to find black lentils in large supermarkets in the aisle with the other beans and legumes. Alternatively, try a Middle Eastern speciality store.
    They can be substituted with Green lentils. Green lentils take longer to cook, (up to 40-60 minutes in total) and require a lot more water to cook (detailed instructions are in the post on how to cook the lentils).
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Calories: 341kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 360mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2446IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 143mg | Iron: 6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @salads_with_anastasia or tag #salads_with_anastasia!
Share
Pin22
Tweet
Share

More Summer Salads

  • AVOCADO & MANGO SALAD
    Mango Avocado Salad With Lime Dressing
  • Cucumber Carrot Salad in a white bowl garnished with mint and a mint sprig on the side.
    Aromatic Cucumber Carrot Salad
  • Lentil tabbouleh in a dark grey bowl with lemon halves and sprigs of mint on the side.
    Lentil Tabbouleh Salad - gluten-free!
  • Mediterranean tomato feta salad in a dark blue bowl with basil sprig and salt and pepper on the side.
    Mediterranean Tomato Feta Salad

About Anastasia Papapetros

Anastasia has been passionate about cooking since she was eight years old, and hasn't left the kitchen since! With over a decade of experience running her own coffee shop and catering business, Anastasia has developed a true love for salads - especially for family get-togethers and friends' functions. She's the go-to for bringing the perfect salad to any occasion!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

ANASTASIA FROM SALADS WITH ANASTASIA

Hi, I’m Anastasia,
Let me show you how to transform your salads from boring and limp to bright, fresh and exciting using in-season produce.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Looking for a recipe?

Greek Salad Collection

NARROW PICS OF VARIOUS GREEK SALADS WITH A TEXT OVERLAY

Cheesy Salad Collection

Various salads with cheese and a text overlay.

Green Salad Collection

VARIETY OF GREEN SALADS WITH TEXT OVERLAY

Asian Salads

ASIAN SALAD COLLECTION WITH TEXT OVERLAY

Footer

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Site Credits
  • Contact Me

Sign-up for new salad recipes!

Recipes & Tools

  • Salads
  • Dressings
  • Spices & Condiments
  • Salad Tools
  • How to Guides
  • What's in Season
  • Let's Shop!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2020 · Salads with Anastasia · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsOKAY
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT