Lentil Saldas: Healthy and Delicious 

Anytime you can mention heart healthy and delicious in the same sentence, I am all for it. This lentil salad I made fits the bill. Not only it is packed with nutrients and fiber, it is so delicious that you will want to eat it over and over again. Rather than a set recipe, this is more of a cooking method. So go at it, use whatever pleases your palette, and enjoy!

    Ingredients:
  • Lentils, soak for 1/2 hr. and cook until done 30-45 minutes
  • Brown rice, cooked
  • Chopped onion, minced garlic
  • Chopped nuts: hazelnuts, walnuts, pecan or pinenuts
  • Fried fruits: cranberries, rasins, cherries, blueburries or apricot
  • Herbs: chopped parsley
  • Seasonings: Lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and a sweetner to taste.


    • Method:
    (1) Soak lentils in cold water, cook the lentils in boiling water until tender.
    (2) If using brown rice, add cooked brown rice.
    (3) Add chopped nuts. You can use hazelnuts (my fav), almonds or pecans.
    (4) Mix in chopped onion and dried fruit.
    (5) Add chopped onion, minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, freshly chopped parsley and a sweetener, such as honey, maple syrup or agave syrup.
    (6) And salt and pepper to taste.
    Keep in the refridgerator in an air-tight container. Enjoy!

lentil salad

Lentil and Brown Rice Salad


Equipment Corner: A heavy cast iron pan is ideal for pancake making. It distributes heat evenly and allows the pancakes to be cooked uniformly. I like La Creuset cookwares. Coated with a chip- and crack-resistant enamel inside and out, it offers the even heat and gentle cooking of cast-iron without reaction to foods or the usual high maintenance. It is truly an heirloom piece.

Caution: Not all cast iron enamel cookwares are created equal. The cheaper knockouts usually do not have the enamel bonding that is required in such a high heat cooking application, so they frequrently crack and leave unsightly stains on the cookware. A good piece may cost more at the beginning, but it will pay for itself in the long run.