French Lentil Salad
Puy lentils with mustard vinaigrette and herbs.
Ingredients
- 250 g Puy lentils
- 1 Carrot
- 2 Shallot
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ¾ tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Red wine vinegar (optional)
- 4 tbsp Parsley (optional)
Method
- Simmer the lentils with the diced carrot until tender, then drain.
- Whisk the shallot, mustard, red wine vinegar, and oil together into a vinaigrette.
- Toss the warm lentils in the vinaigrette with parsley.
- Serve warm or at room temperature.
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About French Lentil Salad
French lentil salad is a bistro staple built around Puy lentils, the small slate-green legumes grown in the volcanic soil of Le Puy that hold their shape and keep a pleasant firm bite even when fully cooked. Unlike softer split lentils that collapse into puree, these stay distinct, which is exactly what a salad needs. Simmered with diced carrot until tender and then tossed warm in a Dijon-shallot vinaigrette, the lentils absorb the dressing as they cool, so the seasoning goes all the way through rather than just coating the surface. It is vegan, high in fiber, and the kind of dish that improves as it sits.
The flavor is earthy and savory with a bright, mustardy edge, the red wine vinegar and raw minced shallot cutting through the lentils' inherent nuttiness. Fresh parsley folded in at the end keeps everything tasting fresh rather than heavy. Dressing the lentils while warm is the key move here — it is the difference between lentils that taste seasoned and lentils that taste bland. Serve it warm or at room temperature as a light main, a side for roast chicken or fish, or part of a spread; it packs beautifully for lunch and holds up for days in the fridge.
French Lentil Salad: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in French Lentil Salad?
A serving has about 375 calories — 16.7g protein, 46.5g carbs, 14.8g fat, 8.6g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is French Lentil Salad gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, French Lentil Salad has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does French Lentil Salad take to make?
About 35 minutes start to finish, but only around 7 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make French Lentil Salad?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out red wine vinegar, parsley — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does French Lentil Salad make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.