This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.
It’s easy to make this unique variety of lentils taste incredible! This French lentil salad features a Dijon dressing, shallots, goat cheese and fresh mint.
Why we love this recipe
What to make with French lentils? Try this French lentil salad recipe! It’s full of flavor and so versatile: it works as a healthy lunch idea or a simple side dish for dinners. It’s a summer salad to eat on the patio, or you can eat it in the dead of winter (as we have!).
Covered in a zingy Dijon dressing and paired with shallots, goat cheese, and mint, we think it’s pretty delightful! We think (hope!) you’ll be obsessed with this simple way to prepare this healthy plant-based protein.
What are French lentils?
French lentils, also known as French green lentils, are very different from the standard green, brown or red variety you’ll find in the store. They’re small and dark greenish gray in color, with an earthy, peppery flavor.
Here’s the key difference: French lentils hold their shape when cooked. This makes them work well in salads, side dishes, and soups where you want them to hold together.
Ingredients in French lentil salad
This easy French lentil salad has a handful of components we selected to bring big flavor in minimal ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- French lentils: They hold their shape when cooked, making them perfect for salads. You can also substitute black lentils, which are similar.
- Dijon vinaigrette: The salad is covered in a simple dressing made from apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. (It’s similar to this Dijon mustard salad dressing.)
- Shallots: Shallots bring a delicate onion flavor.
- Goat cheese: Soft goat cheese is often paired with French lentils; you can also substitute feta cheese crumbles.
- Walnuts or pecans: Nuts add a contrasting crunch.
- Fresh mint: Fresh mint adds an herbaceous nuance! Substitute chives, oregano, thyme or basil if you’d like.
Variations: other veggies to add
This French lentil salad is easy to customize: you can easily add other vegetables! Don’t add a large mass of veggies since the flavoring is adjusted to about this level. But you could easily sneak in a few of the following to bring even more color to the salad (like the look of this Lentil Salad with Feta):
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Sliced ripe tomatoes (cherry tomatoes or heirloom chunks)
- Diced red pepper (fresh or jarred)
- Baby arugula
Where to find French lentils
French lentils are packaged under the various names, including Puy lentils, du Puy lentils, lentilles du Puy, or French green lentils. (Don’t confuse that with just “green lentils,” which are entirely different!) You should be able to find French lentils at your local grocery store next to the other varieties. Not all grocery stores carry them, so you’ll have to survey your local options. You can also find them online.
How to serve this French lentil salad
This French lentil salad is fantastic for lunches, or a side dish with loads of plant-based protein. It’s great to bring to potlucks or pitch-ins to add a hearty option for people who eat a plant based or vegan diet. For vegan, omit the cheese and consider adding another veggie like chopped tomatoes for visual appeal.
- For lunch. Make up a batch of this salad and store in the fridge. Enjoy throughout the week with pita triangles or naan bread.
- As a side for fish. Serve it as a side dish to Oven Baked Salmon, Salmon with Capers, or Garlic Butter Shrimp as a tasty Mediterranean-style meal.
- As part of other salads for a pitch-in or potluck. A plateful of salads is a fantastic meal! Combine this one with Creamy Cucumber Salad, Watermelon Salad, and Greek Orzo Salad for a summery salad meal.
Dietary notes
This French lentil salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the cheese and add chopped tomatoes, sliced radishes or jarred red peppers for a little color and variety.
Frequently asked questions
Puy lentils do not require soaking before cooking, and they are relatively quick-cooking.
The traditional dressing for French lentil salad is a simple vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. You can also add a touch of honey or maple syrup for a hint of sweetness.
Yes, French lentil salad is a great make-ahead dish. In fact, the flavors tend to meld and improve as the salad sits. You can prepare it up to a day in advance and store it in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Easy French Lentil Salad
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 as a side 1x
Description
It’s easy to make this unique variety of lentils taste incredible! This French lentil salad features a Dijon dressing, shallots, goat cheese and fresh mint.
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Easy French Lentils
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ½ tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 large or 2 small shallots
- ½ cup roughly chopped mint leaves, loosely packed
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 2 to 3 ounces soft goat cheese (or feta cheese crumbles*; omit for vegan)
Instructions
- Make the Easy French Lentils.
- Meanwhile, make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey or maple syrup. Whisk in the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time until it’s creamy and emulsified.
- Thinly slice the shallot, then separate them into rings with your fingers. Roughly chop the mint.
- Place the lentils in the large bowl with the dressing (if you’d like to cool them quickly, drain them until cool water). Add the shallot, mint, walnuts, and crumbles of the soft goat cheese. Add the kosher salt and fresh ground pepper and mix to combine. Taste and add more salt to taste. Serve immediately. Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 4 days (if you’re planning to make for lunches, omit the nuts and add when serving).
Notes
*If using feta instead of goat cheese, decrease the kosher salt to ½ teaspoon, then add additional salt to taste (feta is saltier than goat cheese)
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Lentils
Lentils nutrition
French lentils are full of nutrition benefits! Here are a few of the major benefits:
- Protein & Fiber: Lentils are a good source of plant-based protein. 1 cup of cooked lentils has about 18 grams of protein and 15 grams of fiber. (Source)
- Low in Fat & Calories: Lentils have virtually no saturated fat and are low in calories.
- Protect Against Heart Disease: Lentils are rich in polyphenols, micronutrients thought to help protect against cardiovascular disease. (Source)
And, a few more lentils resources:
- How to Cook Lentils Lots of info about lentils and how to cook them.
- What are Lentils? An overview of the types of lentils and best recipes for each.
- Benefits of Lentils An outline on the benefits of eating this tasty legume.
Made this today and liked it, but it was a little too acidic. I don’t know how I could’ve cut that a bit and we were starving so we just ate it instead of researching :)
We put both walnuts and pecans (still 1/3 cup, just mixed). I used Trader Joes Dijon. I had less mint leaves that called for, since my plant was a little dead.
First, we had with matzo crackers to really taste the flavor. Then we stuffed pita and added tomato and lettuce. My kids said it was good, but they couldn’t see themselves eating it all of the time.
Thanks for a tasty lunch!
Glad you liked it! If you prefer, you can cut back to 2 or 3 tablespoons vinegar. We like a very tangy salad, and this helps it to stay tangy during storage. Feel free to adjust if you like! Thanks for the comment.