I love this recipe because it's very simple, comes together quickly and if you stick your bowl in the freezer after you put it together you can eat it like 10 minutes after you made it. ;) I thought I had scallions and the tomatoes I was going to use turned out to be moldy, so they were sadly left out. Still delicious, but I do like what they bring to it so I'm including it in the recipe.
Lentil Bulgur Salad
(Recipe by Mo)
1 cup lentils du Puy (also called French lentils)
1 cup bulgur
1 English (seedless) cucumber
Lots of basil, cilantro or parsley (or a combination)
2-4 small tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
1 bunch scallions, finely chopped
1 rounded tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp dried oregano
1 rounded tsp kosher salt
Black pepper to taste
2 tbsp EVOO
5-7 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 large clove garlic, minced/pressed
Wash the lentils then cover with water in a saucepan and cook. I like to boil it for a couple minutes, cover and simmer for a few more minutes, then turn it off with it covered and let it sit while I prepare everything else.
Meanwhile, put the bulgur in a heat-proof bowl and cover with 1 cup of boiling water. Give it a stir, then immediately cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit while you:
Chop the cucumber. If it does have a little bit of seed action going on there, ignore it. It's fine. Chop it into both small and big chunks. Then finely chop the herb. I used basil instead of parsley because my dad thinks parsley is garsley. I chop it with an herb mill which makes my life marvelous. Mix together the scallions, cumin, mint, oregano, salt, pepper, EVOO, lemon juice and garlic in a large bowl. Add the cooked bulgur and lentils, then mix in the cucumber and tomato. Chill in the fridge before serving.
The verdict: the kind of food you want to bring on a picnic. It just tastes very fresh and delightful. Today's actually perfect for this. It's kind of cool, but sunny. Uhm. Sometimes I'm bad about talking up my food. Basically, it's good. You should try it, and then tell me how much you love me for sharing it with you. Mmmhmm.
I'm now off to clean out the strawberry pot which hasn't been used in maybe 6 years and is currently trapped under the bushes it was standing by when winter happened and made the branches act like soggy french fries. I'm doing this because I'm seeing just how possible planting some basil and possibly some other herbs will be. Because there comes a time when it is just annoying to keep buying herbs.
Today:
Lentil Bulgur Salad
(Recipe by Mo)
1 cup lentils du Puy (also called French lentils)
1 cup bulgur
1 English (seedless) cucumber
Lots of basil, cilantro or parsley (or a combination)
2-4 small tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
1 bunch scallions, finely chopped
1 rounded tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried mint
1 tsp dried oregano
1 rounded tsp kosher salt
Black pepper to taste
2 tbsp EVOO
5-7 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 large clove garlic, minced/pressed
Wash the lentils then cover with water in a saucepan and cook. I like to boil it for a couple minutes, cover and simmer for a few more minutes, then turn it off with it covered and let it sit while I prepare everything else.
Meanwhile, put the bulgur in a heat-proof bowl and cover with 1 cup of boiling water. Give it a stir, then immediately cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit while you:
Chop the cucumber. If it does have a little bit of seed action going on there, ignore it. It's fine. Chop it into both small and big chunks. Then finely chop the herb. I used basil instead of parsley because my dad thinks parsley is garsley. I chop it with an herb mill which makes my life marvelous. Mix together the scallions, cumin, mint, oregano, salt, pepper, EVOO, lemon juice and garlic in a large bowl. Add the cooked bulgur and lentils, then mix in the cucumber and tomato. Chill in the fridge before serving.
The verdict: the kind of food you want to bring on a picnic. It just tastes very fresh and delightful. Today's actually perfect for this. It's kind of cool, but sunny. Uhm. Sometimes I'm bad about talking up my food. Basically, it's good. You should try it, and then tell me how much you love me for sharing it with you. Mmmhmm.
I'm now off to clean out the strawberry pot which hasn't been used in maybe 6 years and is currently trapped under the bushes it was standing by when winter happened and made the branches act like soggy french fries. I'm doing this because I'm seeing just how possible planting some basil and possibly some other herbs will be. Because there comes a time when it is just annoying to keep buying herbs.
Today:
Hey Mo, nice lighting in the photos! Were you outside?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very delicious and healthful by the way. Looks like something my Mom would make. Oh, and I need to plant some herbs too, especially basil...
Thanks, Stella! Yeah, I was. It'd been mucky out for the past few weeks so I only just got back into the habit of shooting outside. Before I was doing it under a fluorescent light, which was bad. :P
ReplyDeleteBasil's my favorite, so if I'm planting anything it's going to be basil, but I'd love to have a greater variety. :)
uhh...do we have the same brain or something? both doing some sort of lentil-bulgur salad in one weekend?
ReplyDeletehaha - love this - looks great! now that's i've played with lentils, there's no stopping me. i'm interested to taste the differences among red, french, and whatever other colors there are, or if there is a noticeable one!
wuejnvxj&^^% blogger hates me and it always takes me twenty tries to post a comment. why doesn't blogger want me to support the people i love?! thanks, blogger. hmph.
I have yet to try bulger but this looks really good. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis would of been perfect alongside our grilled burgers and corn tonight! And I definitely need to start doing some work in my garden. Home grown herbs are the best - their so darn expensive in the market.
ReplyDeleteJess - well perhaps we're just very aware of how good the combination is. ;)
ReplyDeleteHahaha I have more lentils/dals than I know what to do with. :P Sorry Blogger is being sucky. Maybe it's your browser? :(
Debbi - You definitely should get some! It's lovely.
Reeni - Awww. There'll be other occasions, I'm sure. :P Yeah, this'll be my first time growing something on my own, but I'm excited. I can't stand paying so much for them when I could grow them myself.
Mo... you did a super job on this salad.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful dish. I could take that to the beach this weekend. If you want to try something new, I just planted some orange basil in my brothers garden. The citrus scent and kick mixed with the mint is great!
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Moogie - Thank you! This didn't show up until Lazaro commented, which is weird. =\ But thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteLazaro - Thanks! And I'd love to try to orange basil. I actually want to try planting a big variety of basil so I will definitely be on the lookout for that!
I liked it.:)
ReplyDelete