Turkish Lentil Spinach Cucumber And Walnut Salad Recipes

TURKISH LENTIL SALAD (ADAS SALATASI)

Steps:

• Cook lentils over medium heat simmer covered 20-30 minute Do not overcook, drain and rinse with cold water.
• Heat olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat, add onion and cook until translucent, add garlic & cumin, cook another minute.
• Place lentils in a large bowl, add onions, cumin & stir in lemon juice, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Set aside for at least 30 minutes.
• Garnish with tomatoes, olives, cheese or cucumbers.

BULGUR AND LENTIL SALAD WITH TARRAGON AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine shallot and 1 tablespoon vinegar. In a small saucepan simmer lentils in water to cover by 2 inches until just tender but not falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes, and drain well. Add hot lentils to shallot mixture and season with salt and pepper. Cool mixture, stirring occasionally.
• In a small heavy saucepan combine 1 1/2 cups water, bulgur, and salt and simmer, covered, until water is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer bulgur to a large bowl and cool completely, stirring occasionally.
• Add lentils to bulgur with celery, carrot, tarragon, remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, oil, walnuts,and salt and pepper to taste and toss well. Salad may be make 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring salad to room temperature before serving.

SPINACH-WRAPPED FLOUNDER AND WARM LENTIL SALAD WITH CUCUMBER YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with paper towels. In a kettle of boiling salted water blanch spinach in small batches 2 seconds and transfer with tongs to paper towels, laying it flat, to drain.
• In a saucepan bring 4 cups of water to a boil with lentils. Simmer lentils, covered 15 minutes and add salt to taste. Simmer lentils, covered, until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes more, and drain well. Transfer lentils to a bowl.
• While lentils are cooking, in a heavy skillet cook onion in 1 tablespoon oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in lentils, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook lentil mixture, stirring, until just heated through and keep warm.
• In a bowl whisk together yogurt and garlic paste. Peel cucumber and remove any seeds. Cut cucumber into 1-inch pieces and in a blender blend until smooth. Whisk cucumber into yogurt mixture with salt and pepper to taste and let sauce come to room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. and lightly oil a shallow baking pan.
• Pat flounder fillets dry and season with salt and pepper. Divide spinach among fillets, overlapping leaves to cover each fillet completely on one side, and transfer fillets, spinach sides down, to oiled pan. Sprinkle top of fillets with half of mint and wrap with remaining spinach, overlapping leaves until fillets are completely covered. Brush tops of fillets with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and bake fillets in middle of oven until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Stir remaining mint into sauce and stir feta into lentil mixture.
• Divide lentil mixture among 6 plates and top with fillets. Spoon some of sauce onto each plate and garnish fillets with mint sprigs.

LENTIL-WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Cook lentils with onion half, cloves, broth and thyme until tender but NOT mushy (check after about 25 minutes).
• In a large bowl, combine vinegar, garlic, green onions and oils.
• When lentils are done, drain and immediately pour dressing over the hot lentils (it's important to do this while lentils are hot).
• Season with salt and (lots) of black pepper; combine thoroughly, then cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Just before serving add the walnuts; finish by adding a little more white wine vinegar or walnut oil if you like and garnish with flat-leaf parsley and more black pepper.

DIJON-WALNUT SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• In a salad bowl, combine the spinach, feta cheese, cranberries and walnuts. Drizzle with vinaigrette; toss to coat. Serve immediately.