Hearty Ina Garten Lentil Salad Recipe: A Classic Bowl

This vibrant lentil salad bursts with Mediterranean-inspired flavors that dance across your palate.

French green lentils create a hearty foundation for a dish that feels both rustic and refined.

Crisp vegetables add remarkable texture and depth to each delightful bite.

The combination delivers a nutritious meal balanced with tangy undertones and earthy richness.

Bold ingredients merge seamlessly, transforming simple components into something extraordinary.

Robust seasonings elevate this salad from ordinary to exceptional, making it a standout option for lunch or light dinner.

The harmonious blend promises a satisfying culinary experience that will leave you craving more: dive right in!

Why Ina’s Lentil Salad Wins Hearts

• Savor Hearty and Nutritious Flavors: This lentil salad packs a punch of wholesome goodness with its rich combination of earthy lentils, sweet carrots, and aromatic leeks, creating a satisfying meal that nourishes both body and taste buds.
• Enjoy Simple Cooking Techniques: The recipe offers an easy-to-follow method that transforms basic ingredients into a delightful dish, with straightforward sautéing and simmering steps that even novice cooks can master with confidence.
• Experience Versatile Comfort Food: Perfect for multiple occasions, this warm lentil salad serves as a fantastic side dish or light main course that adapts beautifully to different meal settings, from casual lunch to elegant dinner gatherings.
• Relish Quick and Healthy Preparation: With just 35 minutes from start to finish, this recipe delivers a nutritious meal that doesn't compromise on flavor or require complicated cooking skills, making it an ideal option for busy home cooks seeking wholesome eating.

What Goes Into Ina Garten’s Lentil Salad

Main Ingredients:

• Lentils: Hearty base that provides protein and earthy flavor, choose green or French lentils for best texture.
• Leek: Mild onion-like vegetable that adds subtle sweetness and depth to the salad.
• Carrots: Sweet root vegetable that brings color and natural sweetness to the dish.
• Onion with Cloves: Aromatic base that infuses gentle flavor during cooking, whole onion helps season lentils.
• Turnip: Adds mild earthy flavor and helps enhance lentil cooking process.
• Garlic: Pungent ingredient that provides robust flavor and aromatic depth.

• Olive Oil: Rich, smooth base for dressing that helps blend flavors and add richness.
• Mustard: Tangy condiment that provides sharp flavor and helps emulsify dressing.
• Vinegar: Adds bright acidity and balances the rich ingredients.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance and balance overall taste.

• Butter: Creamy ingredient that adds richness and smooth texture to the lentil salad.

Making Ina Garten’s Lentil Salad at Home

Step 1: Prepare Aromatic Vegetables

• Heat olive oil in a medium skillet
• Add chopped leeks and diced carrots
• Sauté over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until softened
• Stir in minced garlic
• Cook for an additional minute
• Remove from heat and set aside

Step 2: Cook Lentil Base

• Place lentils in a large saucepan
• Add water
• Stud a whole onion with whole cloves
• Include a whole turnip in the pot
• Bring mixture to a rolling boil
• Reduce heat to low simmer
• Cook uncovered for 20 minutes until lentils are tender
• Remove and discard onion and turnip
• Drain lentils completely

Step 3: Create Flavor Mixture

• Transfer lentils to a mixing bowl
• Fold in sautéed leeks and carrots
• Add softened butter
• Gently mix ingredients

Step 4: Prepare Zesty Dressing

• Olive oil
• Dijon mustard
• Vinegar
• Salt
• Black pepper

Pour dressing over lentil mixture

Stir thoroughly to combine

Step 5: Final Touch and Serving

• Allow salad to cool to warm temperature
• Taste and adjust seasoning
• Add extra salt and pepper if needed
• Serve at room temperature

Helpful Tricks for Lentil Salad Success

• Boost Flavor Depth: Toast spices like cumin or coriander before adding to the dressing to intensify their aroma and taste.
• Herb Fresh Factor: Chop fresh herbs like parsley or mint right before mixing to preserve their vibrant color and bright flavor.
• Vinegar Variation: Experiment with different vinegars such as sherry or red wine vinegar to create unique flavor profiles in the dressing.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the salad a few hours in advance to allow flavors to meld and develop a more complex taste.
• Temperature Trick: Serve the lentil salad slightly warm or at room temperature to enhance the overall taste and texture.

How to Store Leftover Lentil Salad

• Refrigeration Method: Seal the lentil salad in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid to maintain maximum freshness and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors. Keep the salad near the front of the fridge for easy access and consume within 4-5 days for optimal flavor and texture.
• Freezing Method: Transfer the lentil salad to a freezer-safe container, leaving about half an inch of space at the top to allow for expansion. Label the container with the date and contents, ensuring a flat surface for even freezing. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and give the salad a gentle stir to redistribute ingredients before serving.
• Ingredient Preservation Method: Separate fresh herbs and delicate vegetables from the main salad mixture before storing to prevent wilting and maintain crisp textures.

Lentil Salad Variations You’ll Want to Try

• Herb-Infused Lentil Medley: Replace butter with fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, and parsley for a vibrant, aromatic variation that adds bright green notes and earthy complexity to the salad.
• Roasted Vegetable Lentil Remix: Swap sautéed leeks and carrots with roasted butternut squash, red bell peppers, and zucchini to create a caramelized, deeper flavor profile with added textural contrast.
• Mediterranean Spiced Lentil Fusion: Incorporate cumin, smoked paprika, and a touch of harissa paste into the dressing, then top with crumbled feta cheese and chopped kalamata olives for a Greek-inspired interpretation with bold, tangy undertones.
• Smoky Bacon Lentil Adventure: Crisp up some bacon pieces and mix them into the salad, using the rendered bacon fat as part of the dressing base for a rich, savory enhancement that adds depth and umami to the original recipe.

Ina Garten’s Lentil Salad Recap

Lentil salad by Ina Garten emerges as culinary poetry, blending rustic charm with sophisticated flavors.

Warm leeks and caramelized carrots dance alongside hearty lentils, creating Mediterranean-inspired comfort.

Mediterranean regions whisper through each carefully crafted bite, connecting home cooks with ancient culinary traditions.

Rich mustard vinaigrette adds unexpected complexity, elevating simple ingredients into remarkable harmony.

Sophisticated yet approachable, this recipe bridges homestyle cooking with gourmet sensibilities.

Prepare to savor, share, and spark conversation – your kitchen awaits this delectable adventure that promises connection through delicious simplicity.

Ina Garten Lentil Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s lentil salad brings Mediterranean flavors to your table with French green lentils, crisp vegetables, and a zesty vinaigrette. Hearty, nutritious, and packed with herbs, this salad offers a refreshing twist on classic comfort cuisine you’ll savor with each delightful bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup French green Le Puy lentils
• 1 whole onion, peeled and stuck with 6 whole cloves
• 1 white turnip, cut in half
• 2 carrots, scrubbed and ½-inch diced
• 1 leek, white and light green parts, sliced ¼-inch thick

Aromatics and Seasonings:

• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Oils and Liquids:

• 2 tablespoons plus ¼ cup (80 milliliters) good olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon unsalted butter

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Instructions

1. Warm olive oil (or 30 milliliters) in a medium skillet over moderate temperature. Sauté leeks and carrots, gently cooking for approximately 5 minutes until vegetables soften and become translucent.
2. Introduce minced garlic into the vegetable mixture and continue cooking for an additional minute, allowing the aromatics to release their fragrant essence. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to a separate container.
3. Combine lentils with of water, whole onion studded with cloves, and diced turnip in a large pot. Bring the liquid to a rolling boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, monitoring until lentils approach tenderness.
4. Remove and discard the clove-studded onion and turnip pieces. Carefully drain the lentils using a colander, ensuring excess liquid is eliminated.
5. Transfer the drained lentils to a medium mixing bowl. Fold in the previously sautéed leek and carrot mixture, then incorporate melted butter, stirring gently to distribute evenly.
6. Create a vibrant vinaigrette by whisking together of olive oil, Dijon mustard, vinegar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
7. Pour the prepared vinaigrette over the lentil mixture, thoroughly incorporating all ingredients to ensure comprehensive flavor distribution.
8. Allow the lentil salad to rest and cool for approximately 15 minutes, enabling the flavors to meld and intensify. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired.
9. Serve at a warm or room temperature, appreciating the harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Notes

• Drizzle high-quality extra virgin olive oil over the finished dish to enhance its depth and authentic Mediterranean taste.
• Chop vegetables with precision, ensuring uniform sizes for consistent cooking and elegant presentation.
• Monitor lentil cooking carefully, removing from heat when they reach al dente texture to preserve their delicate bite and nutritional integrity.
• Select fresh, seasonal ingredients to elevate the overall flavor profile and connect with traditional cooking methods.
• Consider pairing this dish with a crisp white wine or sparkling water to complement the earthy lentil and vegetable notes.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 274 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 467 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 9 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg