Skip to main content

Big Green Lentil Salad

4.6

(23)

A whipped yogurt sauce spread on a large plate piled high with Puy lentils arugula and avocado.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton

Cool yogurt, crunchy seeds, and herbs turn lentils into a lunch salad you’ll actually be excited to eat. Serve it with warm pita for swiping up the garlicky yogurt for a speedy weeknight dinner.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1½ cups green lentils, rinsed
¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus more
1⅓ cups plain Greek yogurt
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
½ tsp. ground turmeric
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup unsalted, roasted sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 ripe avocado, cut into cubes
1 cup baby arugula
1 cup basil leaves, torn if large

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook lentils in a large saucepan of simmering salted water until they are tender but still retain their shape, 20–30 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold running water, and drain well again.

    Step 2

    Mix yogurt, garlic, turmeric, ¼ tsp. salt, and a generous grind of pepper in a small bowl to combine; set aside.

    Step 3

    Toss lentils, sunflower seeds, lemon juice, 3 Tbsp. oil, and remaining ½ tsp. salt in a large bowl. Gently fold in avocado, arugula, and basil.

    Step 4

    Spread reserved yogurt sauce across a platter and spoon lentil mixture on top; drizzle with oil.

Read More
Like hot honey chicken with peaches and a dirty martini spritz.
Rotisserie chicken makes quick work of these no-cook rolls with a spicy peanut sauce.
A crowd-friendly, crisp-edged chicken and vegetable rice from chef José Andrés.
Like carrot farro salad and chicken paella.
With dramatic choux layers and fruit-rippled cream, it’s the drag queen of Polish desserts.
Tender, buttery breakfast pastries with crisp caramelized edges, a fragrant cinnamon-orange filling, and a crackly sugar topping.
The golden, crunchy corners are worth fighting over.
Elegant enough for a dinner party centerpiece, sturdy enough to take the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.