Description
A delicious and nutritious warm salad featuring chickpeas, lentils, and carrots, perfect for a healthy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp ground coriander
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon (optional for warmth)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (for dressing)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
- Salt & pepper to taste (for dressing)
Instructions
- Place lentils in a pot with 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 18–20 minutes, until tender but not mushy. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and carrots, sauté for 6–8 minutes until softened.
- Stir in garlic, cumin, paprika, coriander, and cinnamon; cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
- Add cooked lentils and chickpeas to the pan. Stir gently to combine and warm through (about 2–3 minutes). Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the warm salad and toss well. Garnish with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of smoked paprika if desired.
Notes
- For extra texture, add toasted almonds, pine nuts, or crumbled feta cheese on top.
- This salad tastes great warm or at room temperature.
- Perfect for lunch meal prep or as a side dish for grilled chicken or fish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Warm Chickpea and Lentil Salad with Carrots, healthy salad, vegan salad, Mediterranean salad