Crunchy Lentil Walnut Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the lentils, garlic, bay leaf, onion, carrot and water in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Add salt to taste (1 to 2 teaspoons), reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 35 to 45 minutes until the lentils are tender. Remove from the heat. and discard the onion, carrot, garlic cloves and bay leaf. Drain through a strainer set over a bowl.
• Whisk together the vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and shallot or garlic. Whisk in the oil and 2 to 4 tablespoons of the liquid from the lentils. Stir into the lentils. Add the parsley and pepper, and taste and adjust salt. Spoon onto plates, arrange walnuts on top of the lentils, and serve.

Steps:

• Place sprouted lentils in large mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In a food processor, chop walnuts very small, but do not reduce to a powder. If chopping by hand, you want the walnut pieces to be similar in size to the lentils. Put walnuts in with lentils.
• In a food processor, chop the carrots. If processing by hand, you can also shred on a box grater. Put carrots in with lentils and walnuts.
• Next comes the spinach. Either pulse in food processor or mince with a knife. Put in with carrots, lentils and walnuts. Mix to combine thoroughly.
• For the dressing, shake all the dressing ingredients in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid until thoroughly mixed or use the bowl and whisk method. (if using the mayo, the bowl and whisk is much better suited).
• Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients and combine until thoroughly mixed. We wanted just a little dressing to give a "pop" of flavor. If you like more dressing on your salads, feel free to double the dressing amount. (When we make this with the mayo, we then use this as a sandwich filling).

Steps:

• Add the kale and shallots to a large bowl and set aside.
• Whisk together the vinegar, honey and mustard. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the kale and shallots and toss and stir roughly with tongs, about 3 minutes. You want to gently bruise the leaves of the kale. Once the kale looks soft, toss in the lentils, feta cheese and cranberries. Cover with plastic wrap and marinate 1 hour before serving.