18 Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes That Are Good for You
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If you’ve checked out our lentil tacos and lentil soup, you know we love lentils around here, and why not?
These tiny legumes are a powerhouse of nutrition with potassium, niacin, calcium, zinc, and vitamin K, but did you know they are also rich in dietary fiber, lean protein, iron, and folate?
While we may enjoy traditional, lettuce-based salads, the lentil salads I’ve listed below are packed with so much flavor, and are so easy to make, whether hot, cold, or somewhere in between, you’re going to have a hard time making anything else.
The 17 Best Lentil Salads
1. Lemony Lentil and Chickpea Salad with Radish and Herbs
Between the crunch of crisp, cool radishes, chewy chickpeas, and a lemony dijon dressing, this lentil salad will leave you wanting more.
Get the recipe here: Cookie and Kate
2. Refreshing Bruschetta Lentils
This one’s a healthier version of your favorite appetizer, with tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and a light dressing. We recommend swapping the feta for chevre, but you can also turn this salad into a breakfast dish by adding a poached egg.
Get the recipe here: Killing Thyme
3. Grilled Asparagus and French Lentil Niçoise Salad
So far from the traditional classic, this lentil salad boasts fresh green beans, mini potatoes, and an amazing caper shallot dressing.
For the best flavor, use spring baby asparagus, which is thinner and more flexible, with a less woody flavor than the thicker variety. We’re drooling just thinking about diving into this salad.
Get the recipe here: The First Mess
4. Loaded Lentil Salad
With shredded Brussels sprouts, herbed maple roasted sweet potatoes, and pumpkin seeds, this is a salad that can be enjoyed year round, both warm or cold.
Get the recipe here: Hummusapien
5. Green Lentil and Grilled Vegetable Salad
Break out the grill and get ready for some crazy flavor with this lentil salad featuring bell peppers and zucchini, with a super simple basil and red wine vinegar dressing. Refreshingly tart and summery.
Get the recipe here: Foodness Gracious
5. Avocado Lentil Salad
Slightly sweet with an exotic twist, this lentil salad is packed with avocado, mandarin oranges, and pomegranate seeds. A lemony olive oil dressing finishes this dish for a wholesome treat.
Get the recipe here: Give Recipe
6. Balsamic Lentil Salad
Fresh bell pepper and zucchini stirred into cooked lentils soak up the flavor of a maple Dijon vinaigrette that will leave you weak in the knees.
Get the recipe here: Destination Delish
7. Brown Lentil Salad with Pomegranate and Swiss Chard
A cornucopia of colors, this lentil salad strays from the rest with crisp Swiss chard and an amazing ginger mint dressing that provides a flavorful zing that pairs perfectly with the English cucumber and pomegranate seeds. Yum!
Get the recipe here: The Mediterranean Dish
8. Lentil Crunch Salad
Bell peppers, red onion and celery are the perfect complement to the tangy punch of a pepperoncini dressing that is so good, you’ll want to double the recipe just to keep extra on hand.
Get the recipe here: With Food and Love
9. Roasted Carrot Lentil Salad with Radishes and Tahini Dressing
Roasted rainbow carrots and radishes will leave you drooling, especially when drizzled with a slightly sweet, tangy lemon tahini dressing.
Get the recipe here: A Beautiful Plate
10. Lentil Salad with Spring Greens, Asparagus, and a Soft Egg
While we may not completely escape lettuce in this salad, we’re OK with it considering all the other additions, including baby asparagus, radishes, fresh herbs and aromatic Puy lentils.
A basic dressing of olive oil and vinegar allows the combination of flavors to bask in the limelight.
Get the recipe here: The Year in Food
12. Curried Sweet Potato Lentil Salad
Simple Indian spices take center stage in this salad featuring roasted sweet potatoes, red onion, and green chile. A little lime juice complements the heat and spice to round out the flavors!
Get the recipe here: Vegan Richa
13. Lentil, Kale, and White Bean Salad
A gorgeous salad with white beans and red onions contrasting against French lentils and kale, honey-roasted pecans add a fun, flavorful crunch. A simple lemon and olive oil dressing bring the flavors of this salad to the forefront.
Get the recipe here: Bev Cooks
14. The Best Ever French Lentil Salad
We’ll let you be the judge, but with golden raisins, capers, walnuts, parsley and a curry dressing, how could it not be the best? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
Get the recipe here: In Pursuit of More
15. Mustard Greens, Carrots and Cauliflower Lentil Salad
Cauliflower and carrots roasted in a mustard dressing bring a flavorful spiciness to this salad when combined with mustard greens, lentils, and a simple lemony olive oil dressing.
Get the recipe here: Grown and Gathered
16. Lentil Salad with Quinoa and Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette
A colorful salad with carrots, bell pepper, scallions, and dried cranberries, a sweet and salty maple balsamic vinaigrette is soaked up by lentils, quinoa, and walnuts for a mouthwatering salad that whips up in minutes.
Get the recipe here: Wendy Polisi
17. Roasted Tomato Lentil Salad
Roasted cherry tomatoes really shine in this recipe with their rich, bright flavor. Paired with a slightly sweet dijon dressing, you can’t go wrong with this lentil salad.
Get the recipe here: Nourished The Blog
Boost Your Salad Game
It’s so easy to get into a rut with your salads, enjoying the same-old, same-old every day.
Any of the recipes above will create a salad you’ll forward to – and also power up your nutrition.
Get Your Free Cookbook!
Have you gotten your copy of The All-Day Energy Diet Community Cookbook yet? If you haven’t, please do!
It’s filled with 67 gluten- and dairy-free recipes that are healthy and delicious. Plus, they’re designed to be ready to eat in just a few short minutes, making them perfect for weekday nights.
Just click the image now to get your FREE copy!
Yuri Elkaim is one of the world’s most trusted health and fitness experts. A former pro soccer player turned NYT bestselling author of The All-Day Energy Diet and The All-Day Fat Burning Diet, his clear, science-backed advice has transformed the lives of more than 500,000 men and women and he’s on a mission to help 100 million people by 2040. Read his inspiring story, “From Soccer to Bed to No Hair on My Head” that started it all.