IMBB 11: Puy Lentil Salad with Feta Cheese

click to enlarge

I decided that for my first foray into the wonder that is IMBB, this time hosted by Cathy over at My Little Kitchen, I would put together a refreshing, post-holiday lunch salad. After three weeks of house guests, with almost non-stop cooking, baking, snacking and general over-indulging, the thought of eating something clean and crisp was a bit of a relief.

It's a simple sort of salad really, and one with common enough ingredients that it's easy to throw together when the mood strikes. While it certainly packs a nutritional wallop as is, you could serve it on a bed of greens if you really wanted to feel virtuous and balanced.

Puy Lentil Salad with Feta Cheese

100g puy lentils
1 bay leaf
150g green beans, trimmed and sliced in fourths
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 stick celery, diced
2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
75g feta, crumbled
2 tbsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tbsp. rice vinegar
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Place the lentils in a saucepan with the bay leaf and 250ml of water. Bring to a boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Discard the bay leaf, drain the lentils, and leave them to cool.

2. While the lentils are cooking, chop the beans, carrot and celery. Put them in a steamer for about 10 minutes or blanch them in boiling water for about 1 minute- they should be crisp, crunchy and bright in colour.

3. Toss all of the cooked ingredients, along with the cilantro, onion, and feta, in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk together the sesame oil and rice vinegar and dress the salad. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 2 as a main dish or 4 as a starter.

Comments

[Petra]

Your salad looks wonderful :-) I also did a salad with le Puy lentils, but I will have to try yours when green beans are in season here!

[Moira]

Hello Petra,

Your salad looks wonderful, too! (lol) Great minds think alike...

[Alice]

Yum, that looks soooo good!

[ZarahMaria]

Yummy Moira!

[Moira]

Thanks Alice and Zarah! The entries that Cathy listed in the first part of the roundup sound absolutely amazing, and there are quite a few I'm looking forward to trying.

[rowena]

Moira, this looks so yummy I could eat if off the page! The frustrating thing is that I have a difficult time finding cilantro....and it is an ingredient that makes a big difference (to me) if it's used in a recipe. No harm in trying it w/out though...

As for IMBB#11.....I'm already concerned about SHF. I've been a little shy about entering these events because really, my blog is more about living and eating in Italy, instead of just food per se. It's fun to blog hop though and drool over other posts and photos.

Feta cheese is wonderful, don't you agree?!

[Dawn]

That sounds so wonderful. I started a diet this week after overindulging long past the holidays, so I'm going to make it tomorrow.

[Moira]

Hi Rowena,

I definitely agree with you- cilantro does make quite a difference. I'm not sure I would like this salad without it, but let me know if you try a variation and how it works (or doesn't). We could always do a trade....fresh cilantro for mostarda? (lol) You can let me know!

Yes, I do think feta is wonderful as well. We always seem to have some in the fridge.

Well, I think you would have come up with something fantastic for IMBB11, but I'm equally positive about what you'll end up entering into SHF5. I haven't made any final decisions yet; I'm going to really hunker down this week and narrow things down. How is your process going?

[Moira]

Hi Dawn,

Oh, this is such a perfect dish for a light meal! I don't think it screams "diet" either...you feel full, just in a really good way. Especially after eating about a quarter of a loaf of bread with every meal for the past month (speaking for myself here, of course...lol). Let me know what you think!

[Cathy]

Hi Moira - your salad looks wonderful and you're right - it is just what one needs after all the holiday feasts! I noticed that you have a brand new blog and I think you're off to a running start! I haven't read all of your other entries yet, but I browsed a bit and read here and there and everything looks wonderful! I love your photo in the header too. Thanks so much for participating in IMBB 11!

[Moira]

Hi Cathy,

Thanks so much for your lovely comments. I'm thrilled to be participating in IMBB 11, and I'm really looking forward to trying out quite a few of the recipes entered.

Cheers...

[Jessica]

Welcome, Moira! Your photographs are really nice! I've just started a food blog too at http://home.earthlink.net/~sugoodsweets/blog

[Requia]

Waouh I really like your salad ! For sure, I'll test it this evening !!

[Reid]

Hi Moira,

Sorry I haven't been here in such a long time. You're doing such a good job with the blog. The photos are so amazing! =)

This looks so good that I'm tempted to try it. I love feta. Yummy!

[Anne]

Mmmm! That looks really good! I have a box of Puy Lentils waiting in the back of my cupboard, I may just have to pull them out to try this!

[Moira]

Hello Jessica,

Thank you so much for the compliment- I'll make sure to drop by your blog soon!

Hi Requia,

Thanks for coming by...please let me know what you think of the salad. I read about your Rice and Brown Lentils dish in the roundup, but I haven't had a chance to check out your blog yet. It's on the to-do list for today!

Aloha Reid,

Thanks for stopping by and for the lovely comments! I love feta, too and think that it's perfect in this salad. Let me know if you try it and if you agree.

Hello Anne,

Yes, it was good; even my 2-yr. old liked it, and he's not exactly crazy for veggies! Your risotto sounds fantastic- if only I liked gorgonzola! (lol) Maybe I'll try it with a substitution...

[celiaK]

Your photos are amazing! I have to admit I haven't tried feta cheese before. Is it a bit salty? I have to keep this on file and will probably do it in the weekend. Any suggestion on meat dishes to go with it? Thanks for sharing ... ;)

[Elna Smith]

I came across your blog a few days ago and I read it just about everyday. Oh, I love it! Your photographs are simply beautiful! Will definitely try your puy lentil salad. Looks delicious. Keep up the good works and looking forward to reading more of your culinary adventures!

[Moira]

Hi Celia,

Thank you! I love feta and yes, it is salty. Let me think about some meat dishes that would be good and I'll get back to you.

[Moira]

Hello Elna,

Thank you so much for your very nice comments. I'm happy that you're enjoying the blog! I've been enjoying working on it so much, and it's nice to hear such wonderful feedback.

Cheers,

[Giao]

Hi Moira, first time visitor (found you via Rowena's site) and I am really excited to try this recipe because I am a feta-in-salads fiend. Gorgeous pics, gorgeous blog!

[Moira]

Hi Giao,

Thanks for checking out my blog and leaving such a nice comment! I think Rowena's blog is just great- I'm always dying to make everything she posts about. Let me know what you think about the salad!

Cheers,

[Cass]

Time to give one of your recipes a spin in the Solar Oven. The lentils took a couple hours and the beans were done very quick. As I puttered in the yard I occassionally checked on things when passing the cooker....it pretty much made itself. Sitting on the porch watching the sun go down licking the bowl clean.... Thanks for all your inspiration.

[Moira]

Wow, you made the lentils in the solar oven...incredible! I'm glad you liked it- definitely let me know which other recipes you end up giving a whirl!