Lentil salad with croutons

Lentil salad with croutons

45 min
Rich and rustic, this tasty lentil salad with croutons is filled with fresh vegetables and a delicious dressing. The dish will take you on a tour de force with a flavour profile exploring everything from the sweet and fresh to the tart and spicy. Every mouthful is bound to tickle your taste buds, so you keep coming back for seconds – and maybe even thirds. Serve it in glass jars for easy-to-pack lunches and picnics, or introduce it to friends and family in a bowl as a refreshing, light dinner.
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Instructions

Dressing
  • Mix all ingredients for the dressing. Cover and refrigerate until serving.
Lentils
  • Add lentils to boiling water with salt. Cook at medium heat and under a close-fitting lid for about 2 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and leave to rest for about 10 minutes.
  • Drain any excess water from the lentils and steam them dry.
Marinade
  • Mix oil, lemon juice, chilli, honey, and salt to make a marinade.
  • Pour it over the lentils and fold in the apple cubes.
To serve
  • Melt butter in a frying pan over high heat, but do not let it brown. Add bread and toast for about 15 minutes at medium heat. Stir occasionally.
  • Layer lentils, vegetables, pea shoots, cranberries, and bread croutons in 4 glasses or bowls, or arrange the salad in a large deep dish.
  • Top with dressing or serve it on the side.
Enjoy!
Tips

Croutons play an important part in the salad, so it is all about getting the bread just right. When fried in butter, it will turn golden brown and delicious – even if it is day-old bread. In fact, leftover bread will keep its shape and absorb flavours and is sometimes preferred over fresh bread when making croutons.

Tips

When transporting your lentil salad, keep the croutons separated from the salad before serving. That way, you make sure that they do not soak any liquids and go soft.

Ingredients

Dressing
Creme fraiche
250 ml
Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2 tbsp
Liquid honey
1 tsp
Small garlic cloves, crushed
2
Coarse salt
½ tsp
Marinade
Extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp
Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
3 tbsp
Red chilli peppers, finely chopped
1½ tbsp
Liquid honey
1 tsp
Coarse salt
¼ tsp
Tart apples (e.g. Elstar), diced
100 g
Lentils
Dried red lentils
150 g
Water
½ l
Coarse salt
½ tsp
To serve
Red cabbages, finely grated
200 g
Carrots, finely grated
200 g
Parsnips, finely grated
100 g
Pea shoots
50 g
Dried cranberries
4 tbsp
Butter
25 g
Italian bread, diced
125 g

Prepare a delicious lentil salad with croutons

Easy to prepare, this delicious lentil salad with croutons is a popular choice among those who enjoy lunches or light dinners that pack a powerful flavour punch. Red lentils provide a colourful base for all the incredible vegetables to decorate. With their mild nutty taste, the lentils will soak up the sweet, fresh, and spicy flavours from the marinade and ensure that every bite is rich and flavourful. Tart apple cubes add a crisp freshness that complements the soft lentils. The showstopper comes in the shapes of small, golden-brown croutons, providing a satisfying crunch and a rich, toasted flavour. Fresh pea shoots and sweet cranberries on top add colour and texture, making the serving beautiful and tempting.

Packed with cabbage and root vegetables

The combination of finely grated cabbage, carrots, and parsnips allows for a pleasant crunch while exploring fresh, earthy flavours. The cabbage brings a slightly peppery crunch, while carrots and parsnip contribute a mild sweetness. Together, they make the perfect trio to complement the soft lentils and the buttery croutons. They also balance the pronounced flavours from the marinade and dressing, so none of the flavours overpower the rest. They really do play an integral part in making this lentil salad with croutons as delicious and refreshing as it is.

Everyone loves croutons in their salads, so why not try a few more recipes that put bread to good use? Go with an avocado mousse with rye bread croutons or an indulgent cheese soup with croutons.

Creamy dressing with refreshing and sweet flavours

With just five ingredients, our creamy dressing with refreshing and sweet flavours is easy and simple to make – but that does not mean it is a minor player in the lentil salad. In fact, it is quite the opposite. The blend perfectly balances the tanginess of creme fraiche with the bright acidity of lemon juice. Along with sweet honey and the subtle warmth of the garlic, this creamy dressing ties the dish together, as it envelops everything from the tasty lentils and fresh veggies to the rich croutons. The result is a symphony of flavour and texture, all carefully crafted to satisfy your taste buds.

Perfect for picnics and on-the-go lunches

Going on a trip with friends and family can easily result in a lot of planning. Who brings what? Who makes the sandwiches? Throw those notions in the bin because our lentil salad with croutons is perfect for picnics and on-the-go lunches. Its ability to be served cold or at room temperature allows it to remain tasty even hours into transportation, so you can arrive at the park without worrying about the condition of your lunch. Make sure to transport and serve the lentil salad in glass jars. That way, you can all revel in the beautiful colours that layers upon layers of ingredients bring.

Experiment with different ingredients

With a lentil salad recipe, you can easily get creative and experiment with different ingredients. Go for the greens and substitute the vegetables with the ones you prefer – it is about finding the right lentil salad for you.

You can add tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, or parsley to the mix if you want to give the salad another dimension of freshness.

Consider switching from red lentils to green lentils for a more pronounced chewy texture and peppery, earthy flavour. Their flavour profile pairs perfectly with the sweet and zesty notes of the dressing and marinade, and they add a visually pleasing greenish-brown colour as well. Both green and red lentils are popular choices – just note that the cooking time is usually longer for green lentils.

For toppings, you can choose everything from nuts and seeds to delicious cheese. Go for toasted almonds, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds for a crunchy texture and deep flavours. A tasty choice would also be the addition of salad cheese. It will add a slightly creamy texture and a sharp, tangy flavour that fits the overall profile.