Lemon-mint lentil salad
I have a not-so-secret for you: I love salads. They are so many possible ingredients, they’re super filling, and an easy way to get in fruit and veggie servings. I prefer making them at home because restaurant salads are often sad, small and wilty. With at-home salads, you can control how sweet/savory/iceberg lettuce-free and beastly you’d like to make it. Even with all of the possible variety out there, I still tend to rotate between the same 4 or 5 salad combos.
What can I say? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and I’m a creature of habit.
I still think it’s fun to step out of the box every now and again, try out new flavor combinations (especially with the abundance of summer herbs!) and walk on the wild side.
Red pepper bowl?
Wild side.
I’m pretty sure anything would be delicious (or at least super cute) in a red pepper bowl, but this salad was exactly what I wanted with today’s lunchtime omelet. I figured that I’d eat the pepper in my salad anyway, so why not let it multi-purpose?
+ lentils for satiety and protein, a fresh burst of lemon and mint, topped with goat cheese and parsley.
Here’s what I did (for 1 serving):
-Cut up a head/stalk/thing of romaine (I like the crunchy side more than the leafy side), saving half for later
-Added 1/3 cup lentils (pre-steamed from Trader Joe’s, but you could always use garbanzo beans instead)
-Made the dressing: juice of 1/2 lemon, 1 T olive oil, sea salt, pepper, pinch of stevia, 1/4 t chopped fresh mint
-Added the salad mix to the red pepper (just cut the bottom so it would lay flat), drizzled the dressing, topped with goat cheese and a little more mint.
-Omelet on the side:
An awesome summer lunch. It would be a great idea for a party appetizer or side salad, too!
Now.. what else can I put in a red pepper bowl? Chicken salad, guacamole, hummus, brown rice and veggies… I may have created a monster.
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Hummus would be amazing! And so pretty for a dinner party!
Hummus gets my vote, too!
This looks tasty. I love the pre-steamed lentils from TJ’s!
I love adding lemon to dishes in the summer! Its so refreshing and light tasting!
such pretty food, Gina! And the flavors are perfect for summer!
Your photos came out beautifully! 🙂 playing with a new camera/set-up?
thank you! i’m trying to actually learn how to take and edit better photos 😉
So cute! Definitely an original way to eat a salad 🙂
I actually made spinach artichoke dip and put it in a bell pepper once to dip chips and bread in! I love that you can eat the bowl after the filling is gone 🙂
ohhh i love that idea!
Okay I have got to try out this stuffed pepper bowl. Genius. Especially since I had 2 red peppers here and had no clue what to do with them! Thanks for this!!
Taco salad!! A favorite at our house. I usually blanch the peppers first.
Yum! great idea for a fantastic mini salad beast bowl.
It could also be nice to roast the pepper and do a warm spinach and greens salad bowl? The options are endless!
The red pepper bowl is such a great idea! I love salads too! I try to have one once a day!
I love the red pepper bowl idea – especially to use for dips at parties! Less dishes = less clean up! 😉
Yum! Lentils are one of my favorite foods!
I agree about salads, I enjoy restaurant salads, but honestly, I think mine are the best 🙂
Great idea with the red pepper! I have a bunch in my garden I have been planning on using but they are taking forever to grow. Maybe by September I can finally try this recipe 🙂
Love the mint addition to this salad!
So cute! Good idea 🙂
I’ve been obsessing over lentils lately…in soup, in my mac ‘n cheese, in my hummus wrap. Another great idea to add to the pinterest board!
I also am voting for hummus – what a fantastic and creative way to get that extra pepper in the meal!
YUM! Such a fresh and summer-y meal idea. I guess my dinner has been decided for tonight! 🙂
yum! I’ve been loving salads lately too! This is a cool idea! 🙂
Mm love this recipe and idea of red pepper bowl! Looks so fresh and nutritious!