Greek lentil salad

This gorgeous Greek lentil salad is made with black beluga lentils alongside a classic combination of tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, feta, black olives and a simple dressing of olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper.

And it's that combination that really makes this a joyous dish. Each bite combines crunch, yield and creaminess: bursts of tomato sweetness, cool cucumber freshness, red onion tang, crumbly feta saltiness, the piquant fattiness of the olives and the earthy warmth of the lentils. It all comes together perfectly,

Here's how to make this gorgeous Greek lentil salad.

Instructions

Rinse the lentils in cold water and drain. Put them in a medium-size pan in plenty of water, bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for about 30 minutes until tender but still holding their shape. Drain and rinse in cold water.

Whilst the lentils are cooling, prepare the rest of the salad.

Chop the tomatoes in half sideways - it makes it easier to remove the seeds.

Scoop out the seeds.

Dice and place in a salad bowl.

Peel the cucumber. (The peel could be used to jazz up some ice-cold water.)

Slice in half lengthways then scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon.

Dice and add to the salad bowl.

Finely slice the onion into slivers and add to the bowl.

Add the olives.

Add the cold, cooked lentils, olive oil and oregano.

Mix well. Season taste (bearing in mind the feta is salty).

Crumble or cube the feta on top and scatter with parsley.

Enjoy!

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Greek lentil salad

Is Greek lentil salad easy to make?

With just a few simple ingredients, this Greek lentil salad is incredibly easy to make. It's really just a case of simmering the lentils for 30 minutes (a hands-off job), then you can prepare the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and feta and combine with the olives, herbs and lentils.

Will I need any special equipment for this recipe?

No special equipment is needed to make this Greek lentil salad. You should be able to easily find all you need in the average kitchen: a saucepan to cook the lentils, a chopping board and knife to prepare the vegetables, and a mixing bowl to bring everything together.

The full list of equipment can be found on the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Where can I buy black olives?

You should be able to find black olives in your local supermarket. You will usually find them either fresh in the chilled aisle or deli counter, and also in jars on the tinned food aisle.

Opt for olives with the pits already removed to save you time. I prefer to use plain olives in brine but you could go for a stuffed olive if you like.

How can I tell if feta has gone off?

Keep your feta in the coolest part of the fridge and only open when you are ready to use it.

Unopened feta usually has quite a long 'Use By' date - don't eat cheese that is past that date. There is also usually information about how long you can keep your feta once the pack is open - typically within 3 days (and within the Use By date).

Feta is usually packed with a little of the brine solution which is used in the maturing process and this helps to preserve it for longer.

If you are not using the whole block at once, you can make up a salt solution to keep the leftover feta in. This will stop it from drying out and keep it fresh for longer.

Make a 10% saltwater solution so 100ml of cold water with 10g salt dissolved into it. Put the leftover feta into an airtight container and pour over the saltwater solution. Use a fork or spoon to handle your feta to reduce the risk of contamination. When you are ready to use your feta, just take it out of the container and dry it off with some clean kitchen towel.

If your feta has dried out, smells or tastes strange, or has started to go mouldy it is not safe to use.

Is this Greek lentil salad suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, this recipe can be easily made vegetarian. The only ingredient which might be a problem is the feta, as some contain animal rennet, a set of enzymes derived from ruminate mammals like cows.

Rennet is used in traditional hard cheese production to separate the curds and whey, but there is such a thing as vegetable-derived rennet, which allows many cheeses to be vegetarian.

Double-check the feta packet, it should say if it's suitable for vegetarians or not.

Is this Greek lentil salad suitable for vegans?

No, this Greek lentil salad is not suitable for vegans because it contains feta cheese, which is made from sheep and goats milk.

All the other ingredients are vegan so you can easily either leave out the feta or use a vegan cheese alternative. You could also add something else like a spoonful of capers instead for that piquant flavour.

Is this Greek lentil salad gluten-free?

Yes, this Greek lentil salad does not contain any wheat based products so is gluten-free. Be sure to check the packaging on all of your ingredients to ensure they are free from gluten.

Is this recipe keto-friendly?

As this Greek lentil salad contains lentils and tomatoes it is not keto-friendly.

You could leave out the lentils or replace them with a leafy green, such as finely shredded cavolo nero. Some fresh baby spinach would work well too.

Is this Greek lentil salad healthy?

Yes, with all the lovely fresh vegetables this recipe has a good range of vitamins and minerals, as well being as a good source of protein thanks to the the feta cheese and lentils.

It is great as a side dish or could be enjoyed in a larger portion for a satisfying, wholesome lunch.

Feta usually has less fat than other hard cheeses of the same quantity. You could also opt for a reduced-fat type of feta, which will probably be labelled Greek-style cheese rather than feta.

Is this Greek lentil salad safe to eat while pregnant?

It's important to make sure to use feta that is made with pasteurised milk to ensure it is safe for a pregnant woman to eat.

As long as the ingredients are in good condition and the salad is prepared hygienically and safely there is nothing else in this recipe that should pose a risk to someone who is pregnant.

This website does not offer medical advice, if you have any concerns please speak to your health professional.

In the UK the NHS also has some fantastic guidance on food to avoid whilst pregnant, but information can vary from country to country.

What goes well with this Greek lentil salad?

This Greek lental salad is fantastic on its own for lunch. But if you are feeling more adventurous, why not make a whole Mediterranean-inspired feast with this delicious meat-free moussaka? You could go all out with this easy baba ganoush and some flat breads for dipping and mopping up all those lovely sauces.

Can I make this Greek lentil salad without onion?

I think red onion brings a lovely sweet sharpness to the dish and find that this type of salad can be a little bland without them. However, if you find raw onion too over-powering, you could leave them out or use a bit less.

Another option is to make your onions less potent with lemon juice. Finely slice the onion and pop it into a small bowl with the juice of half a lemon. Mix well, cover and leave in the fridge for 10-20 minutes. The acid in the lemon juice softens the onions and makes them less pungent. Drain off the lemon juice and add the onion slices to your salad.

I haven’t got oregano can I use mixed herbs?

Oregano is traditionally used in Greek salad so it's the best herb to use for an authentic flavour. You could even use fresh if you have some growing in the garden.

However, if you don't have any oregano, then using mixed herbs will be just as tasty. You can also sometimes buy Greek herb mixes in some supermarkets, which would well with this recipe.

If using a seasoning mix, check the label as some contain salt as the main ingredient, meaning you'll need to use less in your dressing.

Can I add extra vegetables to this Greek lentil salad?

If you want to make this salad into more of a main meal and add some other flavours you can.

Sliced fresh peppers work well, as do roasted and preserved peppers (the kind you get in jars). Chopped or grated courgette would as a love mellow earthiness. Have a play around with what's in the fridge but try to keep the amounts of each element roughly equal so as not to overpower the salad with one particular vegetable.

How should I store Greek lentil salad?

As this Greek lentil salad contains fresh salad and feta, it needs to be kept in the fridge. Put any leftovers in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge within an hour of making.

How long does Greek lentil salad keep?

If stored correctly this Greek lentil salad will keep for 1-2 days in the fridge (assuming that all of your ingredients are fresh and your feta hadn't already been opened).

I wouldn't recommend keeping it longer than this as the feta will dry out and the other fresh salad ingredients will go soft.

Can I leave Greek lentil salad out on the counter?

No, this Greek lentil salad should only be out for serving and eating. Otherwise, it should be kept covered in the refrigerator to prevent the development of unhealthy levels of bacteria on the the feta and fresh vegetables.

Can I make Greek lentil salad ahead?

As with all salads, this Greek lentil salad is best served freshly made.

However, you can make it a day ahead, if you wish. Ideally, combine the veggies and store in a sealed container but don't add the feta until just before serving.

Can I freeze Greek lentil salad?

No, you shouldn't freeze this salad due to all the different fresh elements. The fresh vegetables and cheese have high water contents so will not hold up well in the freezer.

Can I make Greek lentil salad in a different quantity?

It is really easy to amend the quantities for this Greek lentil salad recipe so you can make more or less.

Simply scroll down to the bottom of this page where you will find the recipe card. On there is the number of servings, hover or click on the number and a small slider will appear that you can adjust to get the number you want. This will automatically update the quantities for each ingredient so you are ready to make your salad.

Can I make this Greek lentil salad in individual portions?

It is easier to make this salad in one big lot and then you can use individual bowls to serve into portions if you wish. Or just use a nice big serving bowl in the middle of the table and people can help themselves.

How can I make sure the lentils are perfectly cooked?

Check your lentils as you are cooking them. You want them to be al dente i.e. cooked, but with a bit of bite still.

Make sure to give your lentils a good rinse in cold water before you start cooking. The best way to do this is in a bowl in the sink, give them a good bath, mixing them around in the water.

Drain the lentils and put them into the saucepan with plenty of fresh water, covering them by at least an inch or more. Bring to the boil and then simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes. They might need a few minutes longer, so check them and simmer for longer if needed.

When your lentils are cooked, use a sieve to drain them and rise under cold water to cool them down ready to be added to the salad.

Why did my Greek lentil salad turn out wet?

Due to the nature of the fresh ingredients in this salad, it can sometimes turn out a little wet. To reduce this you can use kitchen towel to pat the feta dry.

Make sure to dry all the veggies after washing too, and don't forget to deseed the tomatoes and cucumber as this removes a lot of loose moisture.

It is also best to serve this salad freshly made as moisture will continue to be released by the veggies over time.

Why did my Greek lentil salad taste bland?

With all the fresh ingredients and variety of flavours in this salad, it definitely shouldn't taste bland.

Try to use the best quality ingredients you can to allow the freshness to speak for itself. Not much is being done to them other than chopping and adding some olive oil and herbs, so wet, flavourless tomatoes will have nowhere to hide. If you can, use in-season vine tomatoes as these have more flavour.

If you are using dry herbs, bear in mind that they can lose their flavour over time, so if your pot is looking a little sad and brown, or doesn't smell of much, grab a new pot on your next shop and save the older herbs for things like bolognese, where you can add extra without compromising the texture. This small change makes such a difference to the overall flavours in the salad.

You can also adjust the seasoning to taste. Feta can be quite salty so add a generous grind of black pepper to help lift this salad and then add the salt little by little, as needed.

How can I add or change the flavours in this Greek lentil salad?

This salad can be easily adapted if you want to change the flavours. To keep the authentic Greek nature of this dish, the feta, tomatoes, olives, herbs and onion are important but it never hurts to have a play around with what's in the fridge.

You could use a different type of lentil, or bulgar wheat instead if you like. And how about adding more vegetables like peppers, or even chopped or grated carrot and finely sliced fennel? They would add a delightful crunch to your salad.

What is the origin of Greek lentil salad?

As the name suggests, this recipe is of Greek origin and celebrates classic Mediterranean produce.

Feta cheese is a PDO in the EU, which means it has a "protected designation of origin". If a feta-like cheese is made outside of Greece, it cannot be labelled feta.

True feta cheese is made using mainly sheep's milk, sometimes with a little goats milk too, and is produced in specific areas of Greece. Often in the supermarket, you might see it labeled as "Greek-style cheese" or "white salad cheese", which will be made in almost the same way but since it isn't from Greece, can't be called feta.

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