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    Home » Side Dish Recipes

    Published: May 22, 2020 · Modified: Jul 1, 2024 by Renée · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Chilled French Lentil Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    French Lentil Salad is best served chilled. It's a flavorful, protein-packed, side dish, or it can serve as a vegetarian main course with only one minor adjustment to the recipe.

    A brown French lentil salad in a white serving bowl.

    I don't have many lentil recipes on my site, but I do have a few that I'd love for you to be aware of. Even though these recipes are older and need of some updated love (photos, recipe card, and additional information), they're both very delicious dishes that I know you will enjoy. The are: Slow Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew, and Lentil Stew with Lemon and Sausage by cookbook author, Melissa Clark.

    This recipe post and its contents may include affiliate links for your consideration. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, but your prices are never increased as a result. Thank you.

    Table of Contents Found Here
    • The ingredient list:
    • Kitchen tools and equipment needed:
    • How this recipe came to be:
    • Why this recipe is great for entertaining:
    • I can highly recommend:
    • How long will this side dish last in the fridge?
    • Can this lentil side dish be frozen after cooking?
    • What are lentils?
    • Are lentils nutritious?
    • Learn more about the health benefits of lentils.
    • How to make chilled French Lentil Salad:
    • Additional side dish recipes
    • Printable Recipe Card
    • Chilled French Lentil Salad
    • Please comment if you've made this recipe.

    Subscribe to my Kudos Kitchen channel on YouTube. IT'S FREE!! Thanks, and I can't wait to see you there!!
    A serving spoon filled with French Lentil Salad over a white serving bowl.

    The ingredient list:

    *Please note that the exact measurements along with a "shop the recipe" feature from Instacart and Walmart is available inside the printable recipe card.

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    • lentils (any color)
    • shallots
    • carrots
    • celery (save the leaves for garnish)
    • chicken broth or vegetable broth (for vegetarian version)
    • salt and pepper
    • olive oil
    • champagne vinegar (or your favorite vinegar)
    • Dijon mustard

    Kitchen tools and equipment needed:

    • saucepan
    • strainer
    • measuring cups and spoons
    • chef's knife
    • cutting board
    • wooden spoon or spatula
    • small mixing bowl
    • whisk
    • serving spoon
    • serving bowl
    • air-tight containers for storing and freezing

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    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

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    A closeup photo of brown French lentil salad with carrots and celery

    How this recipe came to be:

    I love watching cooking shows. They're my absolute favorite form of entertainment.

    I recently watched an episode on Amazon Prime called French Food Safari in which they demonstrated how to make a French lentil salad.

    This is my interpretation of that salad.

    Why this recipe is great for entertaining:

    This is a super easy to make dish that will be a welcome addition to any table, for any occasion!

    What makes this chilled lentil salad even better is that it's best prepared ahead of time making it perfect for entertaining or as a fast meal for on-the-go!

    I can highly recommend:

    If you're also a fan of great cooking shows with cuisines from around the world, I highly recommend the Food Safari series starring Maeve O'Meara.

    Don't have Amazon Prime? No worries, check out all the Food Safari shows and episodes you can find on YouTube by searching Food Safari!

    How long will this side dish last in the fridge?

    Since French lentil salad is best prepared in advance, and then chilled, it will stay fresh (stored properly in an air-tight container) in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

    Can this lentil side dish be frozen after cooking?

    Yes!

    Make sure the dish is completely cool before storing in an air-tight freezer container.

    French lentil salad can be frozen for up to 3 months.

    To thaw, place in the refrigerator for 24 hours, or until no longer frozen.

    A serving spoon with a large serving of chilled French Lentil Salad over a white bowl.

    What are lentils?

    Lentils are a legume.

    They're in the same family as beans, chickpeas, soybeans, and peanuts.

    Lentils are a little protein-powerhouse!

    Are lentils nutritious?

    You bet!

    Learn more about the health benefits of lentils.

    How to make chilled French Lentil Salad:

    • In a medium sauce pan, cook the lentils in chicken broth, water, and salt for 20-25 minutes. *Note - for the vegetarian version omit the chicken broth and replace it with vegetable stock or additional water.
    • Peel and dice carrots, celery, and shallots.
    • Once tender, drain the lentils and add them to the bowl with the prepared vegetables.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.
    • Pour the vinaigrette over the lentils and stir well to combine.
    • Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.
    • Serve chilled.
    Brown lentils being poured into a stockpot with broth.
    Brown lentils in a saucepan with stock and a wooden spoon.
    Lentils in a saucepan with stock and fresh thyme.
    Diced carrots on a wooden cutting board.
    Diced celery on a wooden cutting board.
    Minced shallots on a wooden cutting board.
    Drained brown lentils in a saucepan.
    Diced carrots, celery, and shallots in a glass bowl.
    Lentils, carrots, and celery in a large glass bowl.
    Olive oil in a glass measuring cup.
    Olive oil and mustard in a glass measuring cup.
    Lemon vinaigrette being poured over a lentil salad in a glass bowl.
    A large white bowl filled with Chilled French Lentil Salad.

    Additional side dish recipes

    *Best Ever BBQ Side Dish Recipe Roundup (pictured below)

    With the help of this BBQ Side Dishes recipe roundup, your BBQ menu will keep your family and friends very full, and extremely happy!

    collage image of bbq side dish recipes

    *Old Fashioned Red Bean Salad (pictured below)

    This fast, easy, no-cook and economical recipe for red bean salad calls for only a handful of ingredients. It’s the perfect chilled side dish to serve for any and every occasion!

    Closeup spoon filled with red bean salad.

    *Sunflower Crunch Kale and Cabbage Salad (pictured below and showcased in the featured video)

    Crunchy, healthy, and completely addictive. This Sunflower Crunch Kale and Cabbage Salad has it ALL going on!! Dig in! You’re going to love this colorful salad!

    Sunflower Crunch Kale Cabbage Salad

    *Chilled French Lentil Salad (pictured below) This is the place!!

    A Pinterest pin for Chilled French Lentil Salad along with a title text.

    When you make today's recipe (and I hope that you will), I'd appreciate it if you'd take the time to come back and give it a star rating along with a comment on why you rated as you did.

    Search engines such as Google appreciate comments and ratings and, in turn, will show my recipes to more people. Please look for the pink star rating box within the printable recipe card. Thank you!!

    Printable Recipe Card

    A white bowl filled with chilled French lentil Salad.

    Chilled French Lentil Salad

    Renee Goerger
    French lentil salad is served chilled. It's a flavorful, protein-packed, side dish, or it can serve as a vegetarian main course with one minor adjustment.
    Have you made this recipe?Please Comment and Rate
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save recipe Save this recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Chill Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
    Course BBQ Side dish, cold side dish, Side Dish
    Cuisine French
    Servings 12 servings
    Calories 171 kcal

    Equipment

    • saucepan
    • strainer
    • chef's knife
    • cutting board
    • kitchen scale optional
    • Mixing Bowls
    • vegetable peeler
    • glass measuring cup
    • measuring cups and spoons

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cups dried lentils any color
    • 3 cups water
    • 2 cups chicken broth or vegetable stock for vegetarian version
    • 1½ teaspoons salt
    • 1½ cups peeled and diced carrots
    • 1 cup diced celery
    • ½ cup chopped shallots
    • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil plus extra for drizzling before serving
    • 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or your favorite vinegar
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1-2 tablespoons chopped celery leaves for garnish
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium saucepan, simmer the lentils in the chicken broth, water, and salt (or 5 cups of the liquid of your choice, if making the vegetarian version) over medium heat for 20-25 minutes. Drain and cool slightly.
    • While the lentils are cooking, prepare the chopped carrots, celery, and shallots and place them in a large bowl.
    • Add the cooled lentils to the bowl with the vegetables. Stir to combine.
    • In a small bowl, whisk together the ¼ cup olive oil, vinegar, black pepper, and Dijon mustard.
    • Pour the vinaigrette over the lentils and stir well to combine.
    • Refrigerate the salad for 4 hours (overnight is best).
    • Before serving drizzle the salad with additional extra virgin olive oil and the chopped celery leaves.
    • Serve chilled.

    Notes

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 171kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 9gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 475mgPotassium: 425mgFiber: 11gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 2.731IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 3mg

    I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's tasty and healthy side dish or vegetarian main course for French lentil salad as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!

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    • Four Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers in a red casserole dish topped with cheese.
      Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers
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      Oil and Vinegar Veggie Pasta Salad
    • A cooked and crumbled bratwurst gravy over a baked potato on a plate with peas.
      Bratwurst and Gravy Baked Potato

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    Comments

      5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    1. Jessica says

      May 22, 2020 at 1:47 pm

      This is the perfect summer side dish and great for picnics. I love finding new ways to use lentils.

      Reply
      • Renée says

        May 23, 2020 at 5:23 pm

        Thanks so much, Jessica. I love lentil recipes too. This is a good one.

        Reply

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    Renee of Kudos Kitchen by Renee holding a cast iron skillet cornbread.

    Hi, I'm Renee! I've been a passionate home cook for over 40 years. I specialize in easy-to-make comfort food dishes from appetizers to desserts and everything in between.

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