This Lentil Salad with Feta Cheese and Salami is just the recipe for still-warm fall days and hot summer days. It’s also hearty enough for cool days.
The simplicity of the recipe and the combination of the hearty lentils, savory salami, and creamy goat cheese will have you making this recipe on repeat.
Full disclosure, my kids still don’t eat this feta lentil salad, but I keep making it because I like it and because seeing foods is an important part of exposing kids to foods.
As I mentioned in a recent post, these Trader Joe’s steamed lentils are one of my favorites. You can typically find them in the refrigerator case on a top shelf above the vegetables.
In our house, we use them either in a cold lentil salad recipe like the one below or heated and served with rice and some grated cheese. My friend, Amanda adds caramelized onions and rice to them. I also make lentil ragout with these steamed lentils.
Why you’ll love this feta lentil salad recipe
- It’s easy to make. It only takes a few minutes to make. I love to have it for lunch on mixed greens.
- It makes a nice side dish and goes well with these crispy zucchini fritters, and peel-and-eat shrimp.
- Because the lentil salad is served cold, and there’s no cooking involved if you use precooked lentils, it’s perfect for hot summer days. But also hearty enough that it’s satisfying in the fall and winter.
- I love taking this easy lentil salad to pot lucks because it travels well and tastes great at room temperature.
Expert tips from a Registered Dietitian
Full disclosure, this salad is a no-go for my kids, but I keep offering it. Not because I expect them to try it any time soon, but because repeated exposures to foods kids is important. They don’t have to try it, they just need to see it.
If you have toddlers, preschoolers, or even young elementary-age kids, try offering this lentil feta salad deconstructed. They’re likely to be more receptive to the individual ingredients.
And remember, even if your child doesn’t try a food after seeing it many times-don’t give up. They might just try it eventually.
And when they do, you’ll want to jump up and down and cheer, but resist the urge. As hard as it is not to cheer, remaining neutral creates a low-pressure environment for trying new foods.
Ingredients and substitutions for lentil salad with feta cheese and salami
- Precooked, steamed French lentils – I always buy Trader Joe’s Steamed French Lentils to make this lentil salad. But there are other brands out there.
- Salami – If I don’t have salami or mini finocchiona, I make this without any meat and add sliced, toasted almonds or pistachios.
- Feta cheese – This lentil salad also tastes great with goat cheese. Want to make it vegan? Omit the salami and cheese. Add your favorite chopped nuts and chopped fresh herbs like basil and thyme.
- Grape or cherry tomatoes – If you don’t like tomatoes, add diced cucumbers and raddish.
- Lemon juice and zest – Ff you’d prefer the lentil salad less lemony, you can omit the zest.
- Olive oil – I use extra virgin olive oil to make salad dressings.
- Salt and pepper – I tend to use Diamond Krystal Kosher Salt which is less salty than table salt (think Morton’s Iodized Salt).
Steps to make lentil feta salad
1. Add the entire package of lentils to a medium mixing bowl. Break them apart with a fork or mixing spoon.
2. Halve the grape or cherry tomatoes. Slice the salami. I used mini finocchiona from a local cheese shop, but you can use any type you like. Crumble the feta.
3. Add the halved grape tomatoes, sliced salami and crumbled feta to the bowl of lentils.
4. Make the dressing: whisk together 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, 5 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a little ground pepper. Pour over the lentil mixture and gently mix all the ingredients together. If you don’t want it lemony, omit the lemon zest.
Let us know if you make this easy lentil feta salad.
We love hearing from our readers!
Just fill in your email address below, click “Save It,” and get it delivered right to your inbox along with other potential offerings from us.
More easy recipes and tips for feeding kids
Lentil Salad with Feta Cheese and Salami
Lentil Salad with Feta Cheese and SalamiIngredients
- 1 box Trader Joe’s steamed ready-to-eat lentils
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 4 oz feta cheese crumbled
- 4 oz salami cut into strips
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- pepper a few grinds of a pepper grinder
Instructions
- Open the package of lentils and place them in a medium mixing bowl. Break up the lentils with a fork.
- Wash the cherry tomatoes. Cut each cherry tomato in half. Add to the bowl.
- Slice the salami. Add it to the bowl.
- Crumble the feta cheese into the mixing bowl.
- Wash the lemon with cold water. Zest it and then juice it into a small bowl using a hand juicer. Add the olive oil and salt and pepper and whisk the ingredients together. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix gently to combine. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Notes
We’re Elizabeth & Anna!
It’s great to have you here. We’re registered dietitians and we share tips to support you in raising kids with a healthy relationship with food.
