Fruity French Lentils (Lentil Salad)

Fruity French Lentils - Close Up

My favorite things about Fruity French Lentils:

• I picked some ingredients from my garden in the morning (raspberries, parsley, basil)
• The kids and I had fun making it
• It’s so easy

Thank you HeatherFeatherWorld (Perth, Australia) for this posting this yummy lentil salad.  It’s a delicious way for those of us in the United States to celebrate the fruits and herbs of summer!

Fruity French Lentils

Fruity French Lentils

Recipe by HeatherFeatherWorld
(slightly modified by Striving Bean)

Serves 4 to 6

You can make the lentils a day ahead.  Store in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried lentils
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1/8 cup chopped basil
• 1/8 cup chopped parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1 or 2 tsp strawberry jam
• balsamic vinegar (for seasoning)
• tamari sauce (for seasoning)
• chopped avocado (optional – I love avocado)

Directions

1. Rinse and drain lentils.
2. Place lentils in saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to boil.
3. Simmer until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool.
4. Add basil, parsley, and walnuts to cooled lentils.
5. Add raspberries to lentil mixture and gently stir.
6. Stir together the orange juice and jam in a small bowl. Pour over the lentil mixture and mix well.
7. Season with tamari sauce and balsamic vinegar to taste
8. Chill for 30 minutes
9. Top with chopped avocado before serving.

Our family weighs in:

• Daughter said it was “kind of yummy”
• Son ate it with a little coaxing
• Husband liked it
• I liked it too – it’s a keeper

Chef’s Notes

• For my kids’ tastes: Next time I’ll leave out the herbs and use almonds instead of walnuts.
• Serve over spinach for a greener salad experience.

4-year-olds portrait of raspberries

By the way, lentils are not beans (they are a legume).  But Striving Bean considers it “close enough”!

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