Lentil Beet Salad Recipes

LENTIL SALAD WITH BABY BEETS & FETA

Steps:

• Bring the water, lentils & bay leaf to boil in a medium saucepan, reduce heat & simmer until tender, approx 25 minutes.
• Drain & remove bay leaf.
• Combine olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic & salt & pepper, pour over lentils and lightly toss.
• Toss the dressed lentils together with the onion, beets, parsley & coriander.
• Top with crumbled feta.

LENTIL BEET SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400F. Rub all of the beets with a light coating of olive oil. Wrap each beet tightly in foil or parchment. Roast the beets for 45 minutes-1 hour, or until they're buttery tender when pierced with a knife. When the beets have cooled for about fifteen minutes, run them under cold water while you slip off their skins. The skins should come off easily. Chop the roasted, skinned beets into pieces that are about 1" (or a little smaller).
• While the beets are roasting, bring a pot of water to boil. Drain the lentils of their soak water, then add them to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer the lentils for 25-30 minutes, or until they're tender but still hold their shape. Drain the lentils, taking care to remove as much cooking water as possible so that they're not watery when you add them to the salad.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.
• Add the prepared beets, lentils, and dressing to a large mixing bowl. Toss to combine. Add the baby arugula and chives, if using. Toss again, gently. Serve the lentil beet salad with your favorite toast or bread.

WARM LENTIL SALAD WITH ROASTED BEETS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Begin by roasting the beets.
• Tie onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, and thyme sprigs together in cheesecloth. Place chicken stock in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in the lentils, season with salt and pepper, and reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until the lentils are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well and discard the cheesecloth bag of aromatics.
• Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until lightly golden brown. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon to a dish lined with paper towels. Add the garlic and carrot to the pan and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the cooked lentils and bacon to the pan and stir to combine. Stir in the chopped thyme and 1 tablespoon of sherry vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Keep warm.
• To assemble, place the frisee in a large bowl, toss with half of the vinaigrette, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the roasted beets around the outside of 4 dinner plates. Divide the greens among each plate in the center. Top the frisee with some of the warm lentils and place a slice of the goat cheese on top. Drizzle each salad with the remaining vinaigrette. Serve with slices of French bread.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Coat beets lightly with oil. Wrap beets in aluminum foil, place on a baking sheet, and roast in the oven until cooked through, approximately 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cool for 10 minutes, and then peel and slice into 1/4-inch thick slices.
• Whisk together the vinegar, mustard, thyme and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in the oil and whisk until emulsified.

WARM BEET AND LENTIL SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400. Toss the beets with 3 tablespoons olive oil in a roasting pan and season with salt and pepper. Roast until tender, 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, season the nuts with salt and pepper in a shallow bowl. Cut the goat cheese into 4 even rounds. Press the cut sides in the nuts and set aside. Warm the lentils in the microwave or in a saucepan and season with salt and pepper.
• Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, 10 minutes, and transfer to paper towels with a slotted spoon. Add the shallot to the pan drippings and cook for 20 seconds. Remove from the heat; whisk in the vinegar and sugar.
• Remove the beets from the oven and warm the nut-crusted goat cheese on the hot roasting pan. Toss the frisee with the bacon and dressing and divide among bowls. Top the salads with beets, lentils and a round of goat cheese. Drizzle with more olive oil.
• Per serving: Calories 482; Fat 39 g (Saturated 12 g); Cholesterol 42 mg; Sodium 571 mg; Carbohydrate 19 g; Fiber 5 g; Protein 15 g
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and carrots and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook 1 minute. Increase the heat to high; add 4 cups water, the cinnamon stick and lentils. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-high, cover and simmer until tender, 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, remove the Swiss chard stems; reserve 3 leaves and chop the rest. Place the whole leaves over the lentils, cover and wilt, 1 minute. Remove the chard and cover the lentils. Season the salmon with salt and pepper and wrap a wilted chard leaf around each fillet.
• Reserve about 1 cup lentils for another use. Stir the honey and lemon juice into the remaining lentils and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the chopped chard. Place the wrapped salmon on top of the lentils, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over medium-high heat until the fish is just cooked through, 6 minutes.
• Remove the salmon and cut into pieces. (If the lentils are dry, add a splash of water.) Divide lentils among bowls and top with salmon.
• Per serving: Calories 510; Fat 20 g (Saturated 3 g); Cholesterol 70 mg; Sodium 357 mg; Carbohydrate 45 g; Fiber 8 g; Protein 40 g

MY FAVORITE BEET SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place the beets into a large bowl, and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Lay out 2 large squares of aluminum foil on a work surface, and place 3 beets onto the center of each sheet. Fold the aluminum foil into 2 envelopes, sealing the beets into the packets; place the packets into a baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Check for tenderness after 1 hour by piercing a beet with a fork. Open the foil, and allow the beets to cool until they can be handled; peel, and slice.
• Lay out the spinach leaves on an attractive oblong-shaped serving platter. Sprinkle pieces of tomato and avocado over the spinach leaves, and top with chopped red onion. Lay the sliced warm beets over the salad, and top with crumbled feta cheese.
• Whisk together balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup of olive oil, and Dijon mustard until smooth; pour over the salad to serve.