Moroccan-Spiced Lentil Salad
This Moroccan-Spiced Lentil Salad is loaded with warm spices, sweet dried fruit, crunchy nuts, and a zesty lemon dressing. Easy to make and packed with plant-based protein, it’s perfect for meal prep, picnics, or potlucks—and always a crowd-pleaser!
Servings: 8 - 10
Ingredients
- 2 cans (14 oz each) brown or green lentils drained and rinsed (or 3 cups cooked lentils)
- ½ medium red onion finely diced
- 2 small bell peppers (red, orange, or yellow), diced
- 2 medium carrots peeled and shredded
- ½ cup chopped fresh parsley or cilantro roughly chopped (or a combo)
- ½ cup golden raisins or chopped dried apricots
- ½ cup toasted almonds or pistachios roughly chopped (or a combo)
Dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic minced or pressed
- 2 teaspoon agave
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, agave, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, coriander, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the lentils, red onion, bell peppers, carrots, parsley, dried fruit, and most of the nuts (saving a handful for garnish).
- Toss and serve: Pour about half the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat. Add more dressing to taste — you may not need it all. Garnish with the reserved nuts and a sprinkle of herbs. Serve right away or chill for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld.Leftovers? Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavors get even better as it sits! For crunch, keep the nuts separate until serving.
Notes
Oil-free option: Swap the olive oil for 1 tablespoon tahini mixed with 2–3 tablespoons water, until smooth and pourable.
Nut-free option: Use pepitas or sunflower seeds instead of nuts — or omit entirely if preferred.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving (recipe makes 8 servings) | Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 186mg | Potassium: 977mg | Fiber: 25g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3632IU | Vitamin C: 37mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 7mg
Find it online:
https://itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/moroccan-spiced-lentil-salad/Scan the QR code for updates, tips, and to ask me any questions!
