A protein packed, super healthy recipe for buckwheat and lentil salad, you can also eat for lunch. Plus it’s vegan and gluten free!
OK, what can I say about this buckwheat and lentil salad with the amazing lemon and olive oil dressing?
- Is it delicious?
- Yes!
- Is it healthy?
- You bet!
- Is it fresh?
- Sure!
- Is it easy?
- Very!
- Is it filling?
- Again, yes!
- Is it plant based?
-Oh, yeah!
A lot of you probably know that buckwheat has a lot of health benefits. It is actually a fruit seed, not a grain, and is gluten free. Among other things, it can help to better control your blood sugar levels (and therefore your hunger), it’s good for your cardiovascular system since its consumption is linked with lowered risk of developing high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and is rich in fiber and protein. And the astonishing (at least for me) thing is that lentils have also similar health benefits! Combine these two superfoods with some vegetables, and a healthy lemon and olive oil dressing and you actually have a plant-based power salad!
I usually make this recipe during summer, because it’s very fresh and light but also filling. You can eat it warm, but if you let it sit for some time in the refrigerator, all the flavors blend together and it becomes even tastier with more depth of flavor. Sometimes I eat it plain, and other times when I want even more protein I eat it with some chicken or fish. Now that I think of it, it will pair really well with this simple turkey roll.
Guys, BE CAREFUL. Every time I make this buckwheat lentil salad, I can’t stop eating it. It's not only the combination of buckwheat and lentils that's great. The lemon and olive oil dressing, a classic Mediterranean flavor combination makes this salad extra tasteful and refreshing! There have been times that I started eating it from the bowl and before I knew it, the bowl was empty. And I usually make 4-6 portions, because I want to have some left for the next day...
Please, make this salad! It is a power food! After one or two spoons you will feel like a super hero! You will have enough energy to hit the gym, pick the kids from school, clean the house, do the laundry, iron that forgotten clothes at the back of your wardrobe… OK, I may exaggerate, but not much!
The recipe itself is very easy and simple.You only have to be a little carefull not to overcook the lentils. You want them to have a little bite. Enjoy!
Similar recipes:
Everything grains stuffed vegetables
Moroccan rice (pilaf)
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Recipe
Buckweat lentil saladwith olive oil & lemon dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup buckwheat, preferably toasted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup lentils
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 cup mixed vegetables diced (I use a frozen mix of peppers, carrots, corn and peas)
- ½ cup sliced olives (I use kalamata olives)
- 1 cup sliced scallions
- 1 cup chopped parsley
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 2 - 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a pot, saute the buckwheat with one tablespoon olive oil, until it starts to smell nutty. Add 3 cups water and boil until it begins to burst (you will see the white part peeking through the shell) and drain it.
- Boil the lentils with one bay leaf until tender (about 15-20 minutes). Add the vegetable mix and boil for 2 more minutes. Drain. Discard bay leaf.
- In a big bowl, mix all the ingredients and serve warm or cold. Eat.
A Jenks
This was a wonderful side-though it could be a meal on its own as well! I was really happy to find a recipe using buckwheat groats that wasn’t a breakfast porridge. Thanks for a delish, light and healthy bowl!