This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
Warm salads somehow seem more satisfying than cold ones and I had a Merchant Gourmet pack of lentils in the cupboard, so this recipe was perfect. While I am on the subject, Merchant Gourmet do lots of ready to eat grains, rice, lentils and cereals. Most take 1 minute in the microwave and they are ready to scoff. Super convenient.
Warm Beluga Lentil Salad
Ingredients serves 4
Small butternut squash, peeled/deseeded/cubed
Clove garlic
4 small sprigs thyme
Rapeseed oil
Merchant Gourmet Beluga Lentils
Small log of goats cheese, crumbled
Whole almonds (a handful)
Paprika
Fresh green baby salad leaves
How to prepare
Put the butternut squash, garlic and thyme in a small roasting tin, drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper and roast on 180 degrees for 30 – 40 mins until soft and slightly caramelised.
In a small bowl, toss the almonds in paprika and then toast them in a small frying pan with a drizzle of oil until golden brown.
Heat the lentils in the microwave for 1 minute, then decant them into a medium bowl. Add the cheese, almonds, leaves and chunks of butternut squash and mix thoroughly.