Salad Archive

Lentils are highly nutritious and make a delicious side dish to grilled meat or fish, roasted chicken. I like the contrast of a chilled lentil salad along side of a hot grilled or roasted meat or fish - serving the lentil salad in a salad leaf makes the dinner plate look very special.

Unless you've been living on another planet, you must have heard of the Microplane® Zester for easily removing the zest from citrus.   I have three of the basic style, plus other styles for grating cheese and other foods. 

HEARTY LENTIL SALAD

1 pound	dried lentils (brown, orange or a mixture)
1 small	red onion, finely minced
1 orange	zest and juice
¼ cup	extra virgin olive oil
2 tbls	Colavita white balsamic vinegar
1 handful	cilantro, minced
	salt & pepper
1 head	butter lettuce (Boston) - 6 whole leaves

1.  Cook lentils according to package directions.  Drain, let cool and dry completely. Place in a mixing bowl.

2.  Combine minced red onion, zest and juice of orange, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cilantro, salt & pepper and add to the cooled and cooked lentils. Mix thoroughly - taste for seasoning and adjust with additional salt & pepper if necessary.

3.  Cover bowl and chill until serving time.  Spoon lentil salad into lettuce cups to serve.

Yield:  6 servings

Kitchen Tip

How to ZEST. If you are right-handed, hold the lemon (citrus) in your left hand with a side up as if it were the neck of a violin. Take the Microplane® Zester in your right hand and make sure the sharp edges of the cutter are aimed away from you toward the lemon. Now, stroke the Zester across the lemon as if you were playing the violin. The zest collects in the upper channel. Voila! Incredible fine shavings of zest--no more grated knuckles!  

Product Details

• Cover included.
• Dimensions: 12" x 1 1/3" x 1/3"
• Weight: 2.4 oz.
• Materials: Blade made of surgical grade stainless steel.

Care & Cleaning

• Dishwasher safe.
• We recommend rinsing your grater in warm water immediately after each use. Remove particles stuck in the blade from the back side whenever possible. To remove "stuck on" food from the front, first soak the tool in warm water and then use a cleaning brush and stroke in the same direction as the teeth.
• Store with blade covered when not in use.