French Lentil Salad

Recipe by From a Chef's Kitchen

French Lentil Salad is a lovely and delicious way to ring in spring!  With radishes, young green beans and baby lettuces, it's perfect for that first dinner on the patio!

Ingredients

• salad
• salt
• 1 cup green lentils
• 6 slices bacon ( sliced into strips or chopped)
• 8 ounces small green beans (haricot verts) ( trimmed and cut into 1 to 2-inch pieces )
• 8 radishes (thinly sliced)
• ½ cup pitted Kalamata or Nicoise olives
• 2 to 3 cups frisee lettuce (torn)
• dressing
• 1 small shallot (peeled and minced)
• 1 tablespoon  finely fresh thyme
• ⅓ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• salt and freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Method

1. SALAD:  Bring a medium-sized pot of salted water to a boil.  Add the lentils and cook on high for 25 minutes or until lentils are tender but not falling apart.
2. While the lentils are boiling, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp.  Transfer to a paper towel-line plate to drain.
3. When the lentils have about a minute or two to go, add the green beans.  Drain in a sieve or colander and cool under cold tap water.  Drain well then transfer to a large bowl.  Add the radishes and olives.
4. DRESSING:  Whisk dressing ingredients together in a bowl.  Pour over lentils and vegetables as needed and stir.  (You may not need all the dressing as you don't want it soggy.)
5. TO SERVE:  Place frisee lettuce in a large serving bowl.  Top with lentil mixture and gently toss to combine.  Serve immediately.

View the recipe instructions at From a Chef's Kitchen