A quinoa lentil salad bursting with flavor and texture thanks to red pepper, carrots, scallions and feta. Tossed in a maple balsamic dressing for a crowd pleasing salad. Gluten free and vegetarian.
This Salad is SO Flavorful!
This salad was inspired by a recipe from a farmer’s market in Pennsylvania and I’ve been hooked ever since!
A simple quinoa lentil salad, made with the little french green lentils.
I’ve made this recipe several times for barbecues and dinner gatherings, and it has never disappointed!
The combination of ingredients comes together for a mix of textures and flavors that is so satisfying.
Salad Ingredients
- french green lentils, red quinoa and white quinoa – I really recommend french green lentils as they hold their shape a bit better. For the quinoa, you can also cook a tri-blend.
- carrots, red bell pepper and scallions – thinly sliced carrots, diced bell pepper and scallions offer a variety of texture and flavor.
- feta cheese – love the saltiness it adds to this salad and works well with the balsamic maple dressing.
- sea salt & thyme – for some additional flavor.
Maple Balsamic Dressing
This dressing is so delicious and really makes this salad come to life!
Here’s what you need:
- balsamic vinegar
- maple syrup
- extra virgin olive oil
- lemon
- fresh garlic
- salt
How To Make
This quinoa lentil salad is really quite simple and comes together so easily.
cook quinoa and lentils together
Put rinsed lentils, quinoa, thyme, and salt in large pot with 1 1/3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes (until water has gone). Drain any excess water and let cool.
prep vegetables and feta
In a large bowl combine grated carrot, diced red pepper, and chopped scallions. Set aside.
make the dressing
Combine juice of one lemon, garlic, maple syrup, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt – whisk well or use blender.
Combine
Let your quinoa and lentils cool, toss everything together in a bowl, chill in the fridge and you’re done!
Easy to Meal Prep
This salad is even great to make the night before, because the flavors of the dressing get a chance to seep into all the pockets of quinoa and veggies.
How to Serve
This lentil salad is great as a side dish for cookouts, meal prep salad for lunch, and works great as a dip served with pita chips too.
This quinoa lentil salad serves 6 as a decent sized side, with 13 grams of fat, 24 grams of carbs, and 12 grams of plant-based PROTEIN (thanks to the lentils and quinoa).
More Gluten Free Salads for Meal Prep
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and review below! It is a huge help to hear from you and it also helps others learn more about the recipe too!
PrintMaple Balsamic Quinoa Lentil Salad
A delicious combination of flavors and textures happening in this Maple Balsamic Quinoa Lentil Salad. Cook the quinoa and lentils together, prep the vegetables, toss with a homemade balsamic dressing and enjoy as as side dish or with chips for dipping. Delicious, gluten free and vegetarian.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 2/3 cup uncooked french green lentils, rinsed
- 1/3 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
- 1/3 cup uncooked red quinoa, rinsed
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 large carrot, peeled and grated (or 1 cup bagged shredded carrots)
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 bunch of scallions, green and white parts chopped
- 6 oz feta cheese, crumbled
For the dressing:
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tsp minced garlic
- 1 TBS pure maple syrup
- 3 TBS extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Put rinsed lentils, quinoa, thyme, and salt in large pot with 1 1/3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes (until water has gone). Drain any excess water and let cool.
- In a large bowl combine grated carrot, diced red pepper, and chopped scallions. Set aside.
- Combine juice of one lemon, garlic, maple syrup, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt – whisk well or use blender.
- Add the cooled quinoa and lentils to the bowl of vegetables, add dressing and toss to coat. Fold in your crumbled feta.
- Let chill in fridge for 30 minutes until ready to serve. Serve as side salad or with chips for dipping.
Notes
Using either all red or all white quinoa is fine. The red quinoa tends to hold it’s shape better for cold salads like this one, but I like the mix of white in there as well.
1 cup or pre-packaged shredded carrots works just fine, but I prefer the freshly grated whole carrots as they aren’t as dry.
This salad is great to make ahead, as the flavors of the dressing will settle in overnight in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6
- Calories: 221
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 461
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 12
- Cholesterol: 25
Keywords: lentil salad recipe, quinoa salad, balsamic dressing recipe
Annmarie says
Yay for lentils! This looks really good- love the combo of all those ingredients! 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks, Annmarie! Lentils are so great! They don’t get enough credit sometimes! 😉
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
Ok first of all the balsamic maple dressing – omg I’m drooling. But then you put it on lentils and quinoa (my two loves) oh I can’t wait to try this combo!! I bet it’s great cold or warm! Thanks for sharing!
Ashley says
Yay, Sam! Let me know how you like it! 🙂
Rachel @ athletic avocado says
balsamic and maple sound like a great combo! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ashley says
It is definitely tasty. This dressing would be great on a tossed bed of greens as well! 🙂
GiGi Eats says
MAPLE & BALSAMIC? That’s a pairing I would never even THINK about putting together!
★★★★★
Ashley says
It is seriously so good. I’ve been enjoying the leftovers for lunch, on top of salad greens with grilled chicken for the past couple days 😉
Beverley @ sweaty&fit says
woww this looks delicious! I love having lentils as part of salads, they’re so filling and healthy but soo GOOD
Ashley says
Thanks, Beverley! Lentils are a great addition to salads, good dose of plant protein! 🙂
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat says
I had never thought of putting a sweet spin on quinoa before! Plus, talk about a power meal!
Ashley says
It’s sweet, but not overpowering! The maple and balsamic balance each other out quite nicely! 🙂
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
This looks delicious! I would definitely top it with some salmon and bring it to work for lunch. Pinning!
Ashley says
Salmon would be sooo good! Thanks for the pin, Nicole! 🙂
Kennedy Cole|KCole's Creative Corner says
This looks great! All of those salty and hearty and sweet and savory flavors working together to create one BEAUTIFUL dish! 😀
★★★★★
Ashley says
Thanks, Kennedy! 🙂
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen says
Call me crazy, but the maple in this recipe makes me think this would be good to bring to a Thanksgiving gathering 🙂
Ashley says
Oh yes, lovely idea Tara! 🙂 I’ll have to keep that in mind come November!
Emily @ Zen & Spice says
I’ve never tried red quinoa before! Love the flavor combinations in this dish!
Ashley says
Oh red quinoa is so great! I love prepping a bunch to toss onto salads throughout the week. I think it makes for a better “cold” dish, using red vs. white. Either work though, really. There is black quinoa too! That I have not tried…