Lentil and Couscous Salad

Submitted by Cookie16

"This is great for a picnic or barbecue. Use the indigo lentils that they sell in bulk containers at Wild Oats, Whole Foods type markets if you can find them. Recipe was originally in the Boston Globe many years ago but I've changed it a bit over the years."

 

• Ready In: 35mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 8

ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup red onion, chopped finely
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 cup lentils
• 5 cups water
• 1⁄3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup couscous
• 4 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 4 tablespoons of fresh mint, chopped
• 3 scallions, white and light green part only, sliced thin
• salt and pepper

directions

1. Combine red onion, lemon juice and vinegar in large bowl with a pinch of salt.
2. Put lentils and 4 cups of water in pot and bring to boil then simmer for 20 minutes or til lentils are soft.
3. Take off heat and let rest for 5 minutes.
4. Drain and add to onion mixture along with the 1/3 cup of olive oil.
5. Toss well.
6. Bring 1 cup of water to boil, add couscous, take off heat, cover and let stand for 5 minutes.
7. Fluff up the couscous by raking with a fork and adding slowly the 1 T of olive oil. Try to get rid of the clumps.
8. Add the couscous to the lentil mixture along with the parsley, mint and scallions.
9. Salt and pepper to taste.

Reviews

[Barb J.]

Quick, easy summer meal. I've made couscous salad before, using a different recipe. I was looking for something I could make with items I had on hand and this was a winner.

 

[sheepdoc]

Very good. I didn't have any mint and I think that was needed. It's a little bland.

 

[Dr. Jenny]

This was a flavorful, easy to make salad. We served as a side to Dolmathes. I had to use shallot in place of red onions, because I was out. We easily halved the recipe ingredients to make a smaller amount. Made for Sun and Spice 2013

 

[LeeDelaino]

Super nice twist on a cous cous salad...I used less mint and more parsley than indicated in the recipe b/c i thought equal proportions would be too minty for my liking. The only thing i added was diced tomatoes (which i added at the table so the leftover salad would keep better without tomatoes). If i were serving this as a meal on it's own I would also add feta cheese! Yum, thanks for a great recipe!

 

[COOKGIRl]

I added garlic and used this delicious salad as a filling for pita pockets! Use both fresh mint and fresh parsley from the garden, too! I wish I knew what indigo lentils are. They sound delish! Thanks for sharing! cg ;)