Sunday, September 28, 2008

Mediterranean Lentil Salad ~ Saboot Masoor Dhal Salad

I tasted this Mediterranean salad at a restaurant for the first time and immediately thought it would be a great addition to the usual salads I make at home. Other than the taste what I like about this salad is that I get to include both vegetables and protein in one salad which is always a plus since we are vegetarians and protein is the one thing I feel can easily be overlooked in our diet.

Another thing I like about this salad is that it is very simple to make and can be made ahead of time.... actually needs to be made ahead of time to provide time to chill making it a good salad to include in the menu when entertaining


Mediterranean Lentil Salad ~ Saboot Masoor dhal salad | Veg Inspirations

Click here for a printable view of this recipe

Ingredients and method to make the Mediterranean salad.
1 cup dry lentils (saboot masoor dhal)
1/2 of a large onion or 1 small onion (cut very fine) (see notes) (pyaaz)
2 medium tomatoes (cut very fine) (tamatar)  (optional)
1 bell pepper de-seeded and cut fine (capsicum/ simla mirch) (can be substituted with 6 to 8 mini peppers)
1 large carrot grated (gajar)
3 small green chillies (cut very fine)(or according to taste) (hari mirch)
3 tsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tsp lemon juice (or to taste) (nimbu)
salt to taste(namak)
3 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro (coriander leaves/ hara dhania)

Wash the dry lentils and drain.

Cook lentils in little water (I used about 1 1/2 cups) on medium heat until the lentils are cooked and the water has evaporated.Take care that the lentils are separate and not mushy. Alternatively these lentils can be cooked in a microwave safe dish in the microwave too. It cooks pretty fast and the lentils retain their shape well this way. Keep cooked lentils aside until completely cool

Mix together chopped onion,tomatoes,grated carrot and salt and keep aside.

Heat olive oil and add the chopped green chillies to it and saute until the chillies start turning brownish.Pour the oil with the green chillies on the mixed vegetables.

Once the lentils are completely cool add the mixed vegetables to it, salt to taste and lemon juice to it and mix well.

Finally add the cilantro for garnish and refrigerate this entire salad for about 3 to 4 hours before serving.

Always serve this salad cold.Serve this salad with soup of choice

Serves about 3-4.

Notes:
This salad tastes best when made with extra virgin olive oil.

Do not mix the vegetables with the lentils if the lentils are warm since they are more difficult to handle then and tend to break.

The onions can be omitted and the salad can be made without it too

In case you are not using green chillies in the salad just mix the olive oil and lemon together and pour on the salad,no need to heat the olive oil.

If you are looking for salad recipes, here are a few more



Vegan Cucumber Salad ~ Khira salad

Vegan Peanut Salad ~ Mungphali salad

Spinach in yogurt salad ~ Palak Raita 

35 comments :

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

this seems so easy to make.. nice recipe Usha.

Unknown said...

Nice entry Usha...looks yummy & delicious..

ST said...

SImple and delicious recipe Usha:)

Cham said...

Definetly a protein rich salad, very different one & delicious too :)

Deepthi Shankar said...

the goodness of veggies N protein in one bowl .. awesome

Vidhya said...

looks really healthy Usha

anudivya said...

Usha, I posted a lentil salad long back and I have fallen in love with lentils ever since. The green lentils seem to hold the shape better...

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Simple and healthy recipe

Raks said...

Thats a healthy one and I love salads dressed with olive oil!!!

Unknown said...

nice recipe and healthy too!

Dershana said...

hey usha, what lentils have you used? will try this

Purva Desai said...

Knock Knock same query.....seems to be Green Lentils or Tuvar dal...
This looks really delicious and tasty salad.

Purva Desai said...

Thanks for quick clarification, I was right they are also called Green Lentils, atleast in UK they are known as Green Lentils...
Thanks will try this dish tomorrow itself...

Shreya said...

hi Usha, this looks cool! Love the picture, will try it out, though using extra virgin olive oil is something I am not used to, so will make do without it for now. Thanks for the info on the lentil too:-)

raaji said...

very different and a healthy version.....will have to try

PG CakeCraft said...

hi usha, i luv lentils and having it in a salad must be soooo... yummy. thanx for the recipe.

Unknown said...

i have something for u in my blog..

Maria said...

Great healthy recipe!! I enjoy lentils!

Paru ... said...

M Salad looks yumm Usha..I must try this..I love lentils and this would be a wonderful use of it..

Uma said...

mmm. what a delicious salad! looks lovely Usha!

Added you to my blogroll!

Bharti said...

I discovered these lentils a few months ago and love their texture. The salad with these incorporated looks delicious.

Unknown said...

Wholesome & looks delicious!

FewMinute Wonders said...

hi usha,

I love middle eastern food. Lentil salad is one that is very simple to make.I think the other day Alton brown was having a show on lentils and I was thinking about a lentil salad and you posted it. Nice.....

Jaishree Iyer said...

Great healthy SImple and delicious recipe Usha:)

Finla said...

This salade looks delicious and healthy

Sunshinemom said...

This is a good dinner with soup! Very wholesome - thanks!

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

great recipe, fiberous and filling too.

mitr_bayarea said...

Usha-

lentils make up for the protein and the others are all great ingredients for a super salad. Good one.

NKP said...

You always have such great ways of preparing lentils.
I try to always have a couple of different kinds of them in the pantry - they are so versatile.

Priya Suresh said...

Simply superb..lovely salad Usha..

Ivy said...

This salad looks great and a greater even combination and healthy version of lentils which we make in Greece is lentils with rice.
http://kopiaste.org/2007/11/lentils-with-rice-fakes-moutzentra-cypriot/

Priyanka said...

Thats one healthy delicious salad. the sesame crackers also are pretty tempting...i can imagine the crunchy taste.

Unknown said...

Salad looks so yummy :)

Lindsay (Happy Herbivore) said...

I love lentils - this looks great (and so easy to make) I will definatly be making this soon.

Anonymous said...

Looks yum :)
thanks usha for visiting my blog :)

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