Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad

This flavorful and easy Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad is a perfect protein-packed light lunch or is a great side dish at your next picnic. Canned lentils are tossed with Greek herbs and spices then roasted in the oven until crispy. Combine with cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, fresh mint, dates, and a simple dressing for the most flavorful plant-based, gluten-free Greek-inspired lentil salad!

I recently saw on the Plant-Based RD blog How To Make Crispy Roasted Lentils and I knew I just had to try them! I’ve been wanting to add a Greek flavored recipe to the Healthy Little Vittles blog so I thought a Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad sounded amazing! This salad recipe sure didn’t disappoint and I think you’re going to love this recipe too! 🤗

Why You’ll Love This Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad

Easy to make. If you’re looking for an easy salad or side dish to make this summer, this is it! With the use of canned lentils and pre-cut ingredients, this recipe comes together in just 30 minutes!

Made using simple ingredients. There’s no super fancy ingredients in this salad recipe, I had most of the items already in my pantry!

Boasting with nutrition. Lentils are extremely nutritious, and so are the rest of the ingredients in this lentil salad recipe. This Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad is rich in protein and fiber, and they’re packed with B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, iron and potassium! Lentils are an inexpensive way to get a lot of nutrients into your diet.

High in plant-based protein. Out of all the bean, lentils have the highest amount of protein per serving! Lentils are a fantastic source of plant-based protein and fiber.

Salty & sweet. I love the salty-sweet combination of this salad recipe! You get the saltiness from the Kalamata olives and spices, while the dates bring a touch of sweetness that pairs so well the rest of the ingredients. 👌🏻

The Ingredients

Lentils. I used 2 cans of organic brown lentils in this recipe for quicker meal prep. You can certainly use another type of lentil, such as green lentils, red lentils, yellow lentils, French (Puy) lentils, Beluga, or black lentils- just to name a few.

You can also feel free to cook your own lentils as opposed to using canned lentils. I like to cut down the meal prep time by using canned lentils.

Greek spices. Roasting the lentils with Greek spices really gives this lentil salad a ton a flavor. My homemade Greek spice mixture is a combination of ½ teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried parsley, ¼ teaspoon dried rosemary, ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon ground pepper.

Kalamata olives. I purchased pre-sliced jarred Kalamata olives for this recipe. You will need ¼ cup.

Red onion. This recipe calls for ⅓ cup red onion. You can buy pre-diced red onion for to help cut back on meal prep time, if desired.

Dates. You will need 4 large dates, about ⅓ cup, to chop and use in this salad recipe. Or you can purchased pre-chopped dates if desired. I absolutely love the addition of dates to this savory, salty Greek salad recipe for the perfect amount of sweetness.

Cucumber. I like to use mini cucumbers for smaller pieces and no seeds. You may use whatever cucumber you’d like, peeled or unpeeled. You need ½ cup chopped cucumber.

Mint. Adding mint really enhances the Greek flavors this lentil salad offers. You will need 1 tablespoon of fresh minced mint leaves.

How To Make This Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Drain and rinse the lentils and place them in a large bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to the bowl.

Add all of the Greek spices to a small bowl and stir to combine.

Then add the Greek spice mixture to the bowl with the lentils.

Toss the lentils to coat evenly in the greek spice mix.

Roast the lentils in the oven for 15 minutes, toss and then roast an additional 3-5 minutes, until they are crispy.

Meanwhile, chop the cucumber, red onion, mint, and dates. In a small bowl whisk together the dressing ingredients.

When the lentils are done roasting, place them in a serving bowl along with the cucumber, onion, kalamata olives, mint, dates, and dressing.

Toss to combine, add salt to taste and serve right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Have To Roast The Lentils?

you don’t have to roast the lentils. This lentil Greek salad would still taste amazing without crisping up the lentils but I would suggest trying them roasted because it’s delicious and adds a nice little crunch!

Can I Buy Pre-Cut Ingredients?

Absolutely! I actually purchased canned cooked lentils, pre-chopped red onion, and pre-sliced Kalamata olives to save time on the prep work for this Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad recipe.

You could probably also find pre-chopped dates and pre-minced mint.

Can I Use Fresh Herbs Instead Of Dried?

Yes! I already had all of the dried herbs and spices to make the Greek seasoning on hand, but if you want to use fresh feel free to do so. You will most likely need to use a higher quantity of fresh herbs compared to dry to ensure the same flavorful salad.

Can I Use Another Legume Instead Of Lentils?

You may use another legume instead if desired, such as chickpeas, or another type of bean. I really love the lentils because they stay crispy in this salad, and they are also are higher in protein than any other bean!

How Long Does This Salad Last?

You can store this Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days for best results. The lentils will most likely get soft, but this salad is still delicious enjoyed as leftovers!

Can I Make This Salad Ahead Of Time?

This salad is best served right away to experience the crispiness of the roasted lentils, but the salad does still taste yummy if you make it ahead of time.

To meal prep this salad you can chop all the ingredients ahead of time and keep them stored in separate airtight containers in the fridge until til you’re ready to serve the salad.

You can also pre-mix the Greek spices and keep them stored in an airtight container or jar in your spice drawer or on your counter until ready to use.

The dressing can be pre-made as well, and kept in the refrigerator until ready to toss into the lentil salad.

More Recipes Using Lentils

Let me know what you think about this easy salad recipe down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a five rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others can discover this Crispy Roasted Lentil Greek Salad recipe! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make it!

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