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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Published: Oct 20, 2020 · Modified: Nov 22, 2022 · This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

    Puy Lentil Salad with Gorgonzola

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    VNFGF

    I usually make this Puy Lentil Salad with Gorgonzola Recipe as the main dish. It is packed with all the goodness of protein, herbs, and intense flavors. It will keep your stomach full and the hunger away for the rest of the day.

    blue cheese salad recipe
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    I was inspired to create this French lentil salad recipe by one of my favorite cookbooks author, Yotam Ottolenghi, who has a similar recipe in his Vegetarian Book Plenty.

    Now that I live in Italy, I have to say that if you can use Castelluccio lentils or Puy lentils, as he suggests, you should go for them, but if you don’t, go ahead and use green lentils, and I will give you here a tip, to make it work.

    gorgonzola lentils salad

    I am also changing some ingredients for fun and cutting corners by simplifying some steps so that you can make them faster and enjoy this fabulous dish without much planning.

    We love making filling salads, as they are our regular main dish for lunchtime. So we make sure to make flavor-packed salads or season them with a delicious homemade dressing.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 💡Top tips
    • ❓ Benefits of lentils
    • 🥗 More vegan salads
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 🌡️ Food safety
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    🧾 Ingredients

    This vegan lentil salad with blue cheese uses a couple of ingredients that make it a winner. It works as a lentil side dish and also as a main lentil dish; just change the portion sizes.

    lentil salad recipe ingredients
    • Dry tomatoes
    • Red Onion or shallots
    • Vegan Blue cheese (Gorgonzola Cheese)
    • Puy lentils (brown or green lentils work)
    • Herbs (fresh thyme sprigs, mint, chives, and dill)
    • Fresh garlic
    • Red wine Vinegar

    See quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card.

    🔪 Instructions

    Cooking lentils. Wash and let lentils cook by bringing them to a boil (optionally with 2 bay leaves). If using regular puy lentils, boil them for 20 mins with a teaspoon of sea salt. Otherwise, if you use Castelluccio lentils, Puy lentils, or the smaller French green lentils, only boil them for 10-15 minutes. Then strain them in a colander and put them under cold water to bring them to room temperature.

    The idea is to have tender lentils that still keep their shape and texture and do not look mushy. Then drain them.

    Slice and soak. Place the sliced onion in a medium bowl with salted water and vinegar for a couple of minutes to lose its intense flavor.

    sliced red onion soaking in water

    Slice the dried tomatoes lengthwise.

    dry tomatoes in oil

    Mix all the chopped vegetables and lentils in a large bowl. Keep the cheese and fresh herbs apart.

    blue cheese lentils salad ingredients

    Stir in the vegan blue cheese and herbs, and toss to combine. Serve on a large plate as soon as the lentil and vegetable mixture has cooled down. Sprinkle the chopped herbs and gorgonzola cheese, and drizzle some olive oil optionally. Add salt and black pepper to taste.

    📖 Variations

    This lentil salad recipe can be customized in various ways; see some suggestions.

    • Vinegar - you can replace the red wine vinegar with balsamic vinegar.
    • Herbs - if you miss any herbs, feel free to replace them with fresh parsley for this vegan salad dressing ingredient.
    • Tangy - add a tablespoon of lemon juice or dijon mustard, and you can balance them out with a tablespoon of maple syrup.
    • More veggies - when we want an even more veggie-packed blue-cheese salad, we like adding finely diced carrots, celery, red bell pepper, and green onions instead of red onions.
    • Crunch - we like adding some crunchy notes by slightly toasting a handful of walnuts in a saucepan and coarsely crushing them.
    • Lentils - you could use brown lentils, green, or red lentils for this easy lentil salad. Even pre-cooked lentils work.
    • Cheese - vegan versions of feta cheese and goat cheese also work, as they have the tangy, strong flavor needed for this simple lentil salad.

    💡Top tips

    Which Lentils to use? So, why may Puy or Castellucio lentils work better than ordinary green lentils?

    These lentil varieties are small breeds that look almost like bigger quinoa and do not disintegrate in the cooking like your standard lentils would, giving you a nice, delicate texture in every bite.

    lentil salad with gorgonzola served

    For this Vegan Green Lentil Salad, I made another change. I replaced the oven-baked tomatoes with store-bought oil-preserved dehydrated ones. Any dry tomatoes that you can hydrate with warm water will do.

    If you have extra sun-dried tomatoes in your pantry, you should try making some easy recipes, such as our sun-dried tomato risotto, red pesto, herbs stuffed mushrooms, and portobello mushrooms. They are all super easy and satisfying recipes.

    ❓ Benefits of lentils

    Eat your Lentils! They are a staple of every plant-based diet! This is why?

    Lentils in every color are low in calories, rich in iron and folate, and an excellent source of protein.

    They pack health-promoting polyphenols and may reduce several heart disease risk factors.

    We love lentils because they come in different colors, shapes, and textures. We often use the red lentils to make an easy lunch with our creamy red lentil curry or a curried soup made with sprouted lentils.

    🥗 More vegan salads

    • Couscous And Sprouted Lentils Warm Salad
    • Classic Greek Salad
    • Lebanese Authentic Tabbouleh Salad
    • Vegan Kale Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing
    • Sautéed Tofu Buddha Bowl with Quinoa

    Read on: Vegan Chickpea and Avocado Salad

    Also, check out our homemade vinaigrette, made in 5 minutes to pimp up any green salad with a flavor boost.

    If you try this Vegan Green Lentil Salad Recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

    📋 Recipe

    blue cheese salad featured

    Puy Lentil Salad with Gorgonzola

    Gus
    I make this Gorgonzola Lentils Salad usually as the main dish. It is packed with all the goodness of protein, herbs, and intense flavors. It will keep your stomach full and the hunger away for the rest of the day.
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Resting Time 5 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Appetizer, Main Course, Salad
    Cuisine Italian-Inspired, Mediterranean
    Servings 4 Servings
    Calories 398 kcal

    Equipment

    Tovolo Stainless Steel Deep Mixing Kitchen Metal Bowls for Baking & Marinating, Dishwasher-Safe
    (affiliate link)
    Bowl (affiliate link)
    Kitchen Ceramic Knife Set.
    (affiliate link)
    Ceramic knives (affiliate link)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 ½ cups green lentils plus 4 cups water to boil
    • 4 ounces vegan blue cheese or blue cheese, crumbled
    • 10 dried tomatoes preserved in oil, or 10 dried tomatoes, hydrated in warm water, and dry herbs for 10 minutes
    • 1 red onion small, or shallots, thinly sliced
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar
    • 1 clove garlic small, crushed
    • 3 tablespoons mint fresh, chopped
    • 3 tablespoons chives fresh, chopped
    • 3 sprigs fresh thyme sprigs fresh, chopped
    • 3 tablespoons dill fresh, chopped

    Optional:

    • ½ fennel sliced
    • 1 cup rucola
    • kosher salt and black pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Directions
     

    • Wash the lentils and bring them to boil for 20 mins if using regular lentils or 10-15 mins if using Castelluccio or Puy lentils. The idea is to have lentils that do not look mushy. See notes for water ratio.
    • Place the sliced onion in salted water and vinegar for a couple of minutes so it loses its intense flavor.
    • Slice the dried tomatoes lenghtwise.
    • Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, except for the cheese and fresh herbs.
    • When the mix has cool down, add the chopped herbs and cheese.
    • Get Ready to enjoy one of the tastiest salads, you have had!

    Notes

    Regular green lentils
    Cook lentils on a stovetop by adding 3 cups of liquid (water, stock, etc.) to one cup of dry green lentils. Use a large saucepan as the lentils will likely double or triple in size. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. Whole regular lentils will typically be ready in 15-20 minutes.
    What is the water to lentil ratio for Castelluccio, Puy, and Petite French Lentils?
    1 Cup Castelluccio lentils, Puy lentils, or French Green Lentils with 2 ½ cups water and ½ teaspoon salt. 

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 27gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 432mgPotassium: 1175mgFiber: 25gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 976IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 257mgIron: 7mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!
    Nutrition Facts
    Puy Lentil Salad with Gorgonzola
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    398
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    9
    g
    14
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    5
    g
    31
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    21
    mg
    7
    %
    Sodium
     
    432
    mg
    19
    %
    Potassium
     
    1175
    mg
    34
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    54
    g
    18
    %
    Fiber
     
    25
    g
    104
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    27
    g
    54
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    976
    IU
    20
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    23
    mg
    28
    %
    Calcium
     
    257
    mg
    26
    %
    Iron
     
    7
    mg
    39
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
     
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    🌡️ Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking points to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

    Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.

    Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I use all of the products listed and recommend them because they are companies that I have found helpful and trustworthy. 

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lucia says

      February 27, 2021 at 6:05 pm

      5 stars
      I love love this salad! Such a creative way to use lentils! The trick to eat the raw onions is great and the Gorgonzola is such a perfect combination. Definitely a five stars!

      Reply
    2. Lucia says

      February 27, 2021 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      Love love this salad! A really creative way to use lentils. The trick to eat raw onions is great and the Gorgonzola a perfect combination!

      Reply
    3. Taly says

      July 08, 2021 at 3:46 pm

      amo las lentejas y el queso! gracias por esta idea de combinarlos!!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        July 08, 2021 at 4:34 pm

        Un placer! Nos encanta compartir los platos que nos traen felicidad! jeje

        Reply
      • Gus says

        August 01, 2021 at 10:53 am

        De nada! Es una gran receta con una gran explosión de sabores!

        Reply
    4. Petro says

      August 21, 2021 at 5:45 pm

      5 stars
      I love this idea! Light but still very nutritious, just my kind of food! Thanks for all the useful info too!

      Reply
    5. Jenn says

      August 21, 2021 at 7:20 pm

      5 stars
      This is a crazy flavorful salad! I love lentils and blue cheese but have never put them together before. I'll be making this dish again!

      Reply
    6. Biana says

      August 21, 2021 at 7:28 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious! I like the combination of lentils, blue cheese and veggies.

      Reply
    7. Andrea says

      August 21, 2021 at 7:31 pm

      5 stars
      I am very intrigued by this awesome looking salad. Lentils, blue cheese and sundried tomatoes, wow!

      Reply
    8. Beth says

      August 21, 2021 at 9:08 pm

      5 stars
      Oh wow! I love blue cheese and this salad is my new favorite! Great way to use up the lentils I had and absolutely delicious! Definitely going to make this again!

      Reply
    9. Gloria says

      May 12, 2022 at 3:25 pm

      5 stars
      Lentils are such a healthy ingredient to include in recipes. This salad would make a great dinner salad. Protein-packed and lots of great flavours.

      Reply
    10. Kali Alexandria says

      May 12, 2022 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      The best summer staple salad. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        May 12, 2022 at 10:21 pm

        You are welcome, Kali. I am glad you liked it! thanks for you review!

        Reply
    11. Caroline says

      May 12, 2022 at 3:52 pm

      5 stars
      I love lentil salads - so easy to adapt and a nice balance of hearty but still healthy. I haven't tried with gorgonzola before so looking forward to trying these tasty flavors!

      Reply
    12. Sue says

      May 12, 2022 at 4:17 pm

      5 stars
      My husband adores lentils, and I adore gorgonzola ~ this is a match made in heaven!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        May 12, 2022 at 10:20 pm

        Super! I am glad you guys enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for your review, Sue!

        Reply
    13. Mindy Fewless says

      May 12, 2022 at 5:28 pm

      5 stars
      Even for someone who doesn't typically eat only plant based...this had so much flavor and was amazing! Thank u!

      Reply
      • Gus says

        May 21, 2022 at 7:44 am

        Thank you for your kind words about our Lentil Salad, Mindy! We're glad you enjoy it as much as we do. 🙂

        Reply

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