Super flavorful Lentil Salad with spinach & tomatoes tossed in an easy balsamic-dijon dressing! Fresh, healthy, nutrient-packed, and great for take-along lunches! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free option)
Beautiful lentils! It seems like they’re gaining popularity lately – which in my opinion, they totally deserve 😉 They’re inexpensive, easy to cook, and pack a big nutrient and protein punch. I always keep a jar of them on hand since they cook easily and are great for adding to soups and salads.
After making this dish a few times, my husband called it one of his favorite lentil dishes so I wanted to get it posted. It may look modest, but the big flavors keep us coming back for more. The simple balsamic-dijon dressing brings it all together, while the capers add a nice, salty pop. Chives can be a little harder to find, so replace with a little shallot or green onion if needed. We like to keep a batch in the fridge throughout the week for quick snacks, and it’s an awesome choice for packed lunches as well!
Lentil Salad with Capers and Balsamic-Dijon Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup green/brown lentils (uncooked)
- 3 roma tomatoes
- 2-3 oz. spinach
- 1/4 cup chives (or shallot or green onion)
- 2 Tbsp. capers
For the dressing
- 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil (omit for oil-free)
- 1 tsp. dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
Instructions
- Cook lentils according to package directions, leaving firm, not mushy.
- While lentils are cooking, make the dressing: in a small bowl combine all ingredients and whisk.
- Roughly chop the spinach and chives, and dice tomatoes. Place in a large bowl.
- When lentils are done cooking, drain, and immediately add to large bowl with spinach and tomatoes. The heat from the lentils will slightly wilt the spinach.
- Add the dressing and capers and stir to combine.
Nutrition Per Serving (estimate)
Enjoying this Lentil Salad? Also feel free to check out the full “Vegan Salad” recipe archives on the site for more fresh and tasty plant based inspiration!
Hey there, I just made this for dinner exactly as written and it's really good! Very simple to put together. I will enjoy having the leftovers for lunch 🙂
Hi Kate! Yay! Happy to hear you enjoyed it. We LOVE the leftovers for lunches and quick snacks – hope you do too! Thanks so much for the sweet message 🙂
Hi thanks for the recipe, the combination of capers, lentils and tomatoes with the dressing is very tasty! i have a hard time adding capers to a dish without overpowering, this is nicely balanced. 🙂
Hey Sara! I'm so glad you tried it and enjoyed! I totally agree with the capers – they're tiny but pack a powerful taste! They seem to play well in this salad 🙂 Thanks for your kind words, have a lovely weekend!
Oh my goodness! This was so delicious!! Even my 10 yr old and 13 yr old had seconds. It was quick and easy. I must add that I'm glad Beverly is my neighbor because I had to borrow the balsamic vinegar from her at the last minute (turns out my son used the last of mine to make his own mysterious recipe).
Thank you for another fantastic keeper!
Hi Skye!! Haha this made me laugh out loud – "mysterious recipe", I love it! Sounds like you've got a future chef on your hands 😉 Beverly texted me the night you came over to borrow it and it made me smile! SO glad you all enjoyed it, yay! Hope you've had a lovely summer and enjoy the rest of the week <3
-Kaitlin
Do you serve this hot or cold?
Hi!! I usually serve it room temp or chilled but you could certainly try it warm too if that's your style! 🙂 Hope you enjoy!! -Kaitlin
Making this for lunch tomorrow. Was curious though what is the serving size? I use My Fitness Pal and it would help with my calorie intake.
Much appreciated!
Rae C.
Tastes yummy and looks wonderful 😋
Thanks so much Jan! Wishing you a beautiful week 🙂