Photo of Lentil salad with fresh mint & goat cheese by WW

Lentil salad with fresh mint & goat cheese

3
Points®
Total Time
35 min
Prep
10 min
Cook
25 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Easy
This seven-ingredient recipe uses the wonderful flavor of French lentils to great advantage by pairing them with fresh chopped mint and creamy goat cheese for a tasty contrast in flavor and texture. Green French lentils are not like the standard green lentils in the grocery store. The French variety are slightly darker, they taste more peppery and nutty, and they are smaller in size. But what makes them really stand apart from other lentils is how well they hold their shape when they’re cooked, much better than other varieties, which makes them ideal for recipes like this one where they are the star.

Ingredients

Dried lentils

1½ cup(s), French green-variety, picked over and rinsed

Bay leaf

2 leaf/leaves

Red onion

½ small, coarsely chopped

Peppermint leaves

¼ cup(s), fresh, coarsely chopped

Table salt

½ tsp, or to taste

Black pepper

¼ tsp, freshly ground, or to taste

Semisoft goat cheese

½ cup(s), crumbled

Instructions

  1. Place lentils in medium saucepan and add enough water to cover lentils by 2 to 3 inches. Add bay leaves and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and partially cover pan; simmer until lentils are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain; discard bay leaves and transfer lentils to large bowl.
  2. While lentils are still warm, stir in onion, mint, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle goat cheese over salad just before serving; serve warm or chilled.
  3. Serving size: about 3⁄4 cup lentil salad and scant 11⁄2 tbsp cheese