Black Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables (Printable View)

Hearty beluga lentils tossed with caramelized roasted vegetables and fresh lemon dressing for a satisfying Mediterranean meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Lentils

01 - 1 cup dried black lentils (beluga lentils), rinsed
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1 bay leaf
04 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

05 - 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
07 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
08 - 1 small carrot, diced
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
11 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Salad Additions

12 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
14 - 2 tablespoons feta cheese, crumbled (optional)

→ Dressing

15 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
16 - 1½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
17 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
18 - 1 garlic clove, minced
19 - ½ teaspoon honey or maple syrup
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F for roasting the vegetables.
02 - Spread bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, and carrot on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat evenly.
03 - Roast vegetables for 25–30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and lightly browned.
04 - Place lentils, water, and bay leaf in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes until lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain and discard bay leaf. Stir in ½ teaspoon salt while warm.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
06 - Combine warm lentils, roasted vegetables, cherry tomatoes, and parsley in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss gently to combine. Add feta if using.
07 - Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The black lentils hold their shape beautifully giving you satisfying texture in every bite
  • You can roast the vegetables ahead and this salad actually tastes better the next day
  • Its one of those rare dishes that feels substantial enough for dinner but still leaves you light and energized
02 -
  • Let the lentils cool slightly before tossing with the dressing so they absorb the flavors without falling apart
  • The salad needs at least 15 minutes to sit so the lentils soak up that lemony dressing
  • Dont skip the honey or maple syrup it balances the acidity and makes the roasted vegetables taste even sweeter
03 -
  • Spread the vegetables in a single layer on the baking sheet with space between them so they roast rather than steam
  • Taste the lentils after 20 minutes and keep checking every few minutes because you want them tender not mushy
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