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Home » Vegan Lunch Recipes » Lentil Salad Recipe with Ginger Dressing

March 8, 2021

Lentil Salad Recipe with Ginger Dressing

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This cold hearty lentil salad recipe is the perfect vegan salad packed with protein and fiber. This easy salad with ginger dressing comes together fast and is made with lentils, cherry tomatoes, kale and olives.

This lentil salad recipe is a twist on the classic Japanese salad with ginger dressing. The brightness of the ginger dressing and the colors of the cherry tomatoes and kale really brings the lentil salad into summer.

The vegan lentil salad is light, healthy and easy to prepare. The lentil salad is gluten free, vegan and made with ingredients you most likely have on hand. You can make this dish in less than 10 minutes and it is great to bring along to your next summer BBQ.

Ingredients required to make lentil salad with ginger dressing

  • LENTILS- Stating the obvious, right? If you want to make the lentil salad in a pinch, purchase canned lentils. To be honest, I always buy the canned lentils (the organic kind) and they are just as good as making it from dry. A can of lentils costs $1.50 or less, so it is affordable and it says you a lot of time. For this cold lentil salad, you can use red lentils, french green lentils, brown lentils or black lentils. I usually stick to brown lentils.
  • CHERRY TOMATOES – I love cherry tomatoes, especially in a cold lentil salad in the summer. I recommend using organic cherry tomatoes for the lentil salad. You can slice the tomatoes in half, or you can be lazy like me and throw them into the salad whole 🙂
  • KALE – The lentil salad does need some green! I like to use kale and sauté it for about 3-5 minutes so that it is slightly wilted but still crunchy. If you do not have any kale, you can substitute it with spinach. You can even make this mostly with spinach and make it a spinach salad with lentils.
  • OLIVES – I enjoy having a pop of saltiness in my lentil salad by adding kalamata olives. You can add any type of olives that you want including green olives, black olives or a mediterranean olive mix. Since this lentil salad is served cold, adding olives just feels right.
  • Ginger Dressing – The star of the show – the ginger salad dressing. I usually just use store bought, but if I am feeling fancy, I will make my own ginger dressing. My favorite brand to use is the Makoto ginger dressing. Keep reading below for my recipe for homemade ginger dressing 🙂

Start by making the ginger dressing

Even though you can buy ginger salad dressing, the lentil salad recipe tastes so much better with homemade dressing. The ginger is fresh and gives the salad a nice summer brightness packed with flavor. Here is how to get started with the ginger dressing:

  • Combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, and freshly grated ginger in a large bowl.
  • Whisk all of the ingredients together until fully incorporated.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Taste the dressing and make any adjustments you see fit. If you like your dressing sweeter, add more maple syrup, or if you like tang, add more apple cider vinegar. This dressing goes great on my Kale Salad Recipe or drizzled on top of my Perfect Pan-roasted Broccoli.

Recommended store bought ginger salad dressing

If you can’t find Makoto ginger dressing, here are two other ginger dressings I recommend for purchase on Amazon:

1. Wu Japanese Ginger Dressing
2. Wafu Japanese Carrot Ginger Dressing

Prep the kale

If you prefer to eat the kale raw, then you can skip this step in the lentil salad recipe. I prefer to have sautéd kale in my lentil salad and it only takes 3-5 minutes. Or, just swap the kale for spinach. Both taste great! To prep the kale:

  • Wash off the kale to remove excess dirt
  • Roughly chop the kale into bite sized pieces. Kale leaves can be pretty big so it is best to chop it up so you are not chewing large chunks of kale LOL
  • In a small skillet, sauté the kale for 3-5 minutes. It should just become slightly wilted, but still have a crisp and crunchy bite.

How to make Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing

Lentil salad with ginger dressing, cherry tomatoes, kale and olives.
Lentil salad with ginger dressing

Everything comes together very fast in this lentil salad recipe and since it is served cold, there is minimal prep involved. Like I mentioned before, you may want to sauté the kale a few minutes in a skillet over medium heat so that it is easier to eat and less bitter. Or, just substitute it with spinach.

  • Drain the canned lentils and rinse in a colander. You want to rinse the lentils to remove all of the salty soaking liquid.
  • Next, combine the lentils, olives, cherry tomatoes and chopped kale or spinach in a large bowl. Gently toss the salad together before adding the dressing.
  • Lastly, pour on your ginger salad dressing. Toss the lentil salad gently with two large spoons. Be careful not to smash the lentils and make them mushy (this is why canned lentils works best because they still maintain their structure and bite.)

P.S. Have you tried my Kale Caesar Salad recipe?

Ginger lentil salad with kale, cherry tomatoes and olives.
Lentil salad with ginger dressing

Variations of this cold lentil salad recipe

  • Mediterranean Lentil Salad – Combine lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, capers and parsley and pair with an olive oil based dressing like olive oil and fresh garlic or a hummus dressing. You can add fresh vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, roasted red peppers and eggplant. Add anything that gives this salad a Mediterranean taste 🙂
  • Greek Lentil Salad – Combine lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, vegan feta cheese (or feta for vegetarian lentil salad), rice wine vinegar, garlic and olive oil. You can throw in some quinoa for extra protein and healthy carbohydrates. The feta cheese is what makes this greek lentil salad absolutely amazing. Also feel free to add in zucchini, eggplant, roasted red peppers, banana peppers, capers, etc.
  • Mushroom Lentil Salad – I love this lentil salad recipe too! Sauté white button mushrooms or baby portobello mushrooms and combine with lentils, tomatoes and arugula. Spice it up with garlic, olive oil and red chili flakes for some heat. Drizzle some lemon juice on top before serving and you have a delicious mushroom lentil salad ready to serve.
  • Warm Lentil and Tomato Salad – This is great for a winter salad. Heat up lentils and combine with crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, lemon juice, parsley and chickpeas. Toss in balsamic dressing or a warm garlic olive oil.

Serving and storing

You can make the cold vegan lentil salad with ginger dressing in advance and store in the refrigerator for up to five days. To make in advance for meal prep, store together the lentils, tomatoes, kale and olives in one air-tight sealed container, and then use a mini dressing container separately to keep the ginger dressing. Don’t panic if the ginger salad dressing hardens or congeals – that is the fat from the olive oil. All you have to do is warm it up slightly and it will liquify.

If you are ever hosting a large crowd or participate in a pot luck, the lentil salad with ginger dressing is an easy and affordable option to prepare. The prep work is minimal and the ingredients are pretty cheap. You can get organic lentils in a can for $1-$1.50. Serving the salad is great for large gatherings. You can serve it family style in a big bowl with large serving spoons and transporting it is easy with a large air-tight container. It is also great for meal prepping as you can portion it out for 5 days and it is packed with protein and fiber to keep you energized!

Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing

Easy healthy and vegan lentil salad with ginger dressing. Made with lentils, tomatoes, kale and olives. Easy vegan lentil recipe everyone will love!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Lunch, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 130 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl

Ingredients
  

Lentil Salad

  • 16 ounces canned cooked lentils brown lentils, red lentils or green lentils
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup kale substitute spinach
  • ½ cup kalamata olives

Ginger Salad Dressing

  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated ginger
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

Instructions
 

Ginger Salad Dressing

  • Grate the ginger over a large mixing bowl. Make sure the ginger is finely grated using a handheld grater.
  • Add the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt and pepper to the bowl.
  • Whisk all the ingredients together. Ensure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
  • Set dressing to the side. The ginger dressing stores well in an air-tight container.

Lentil Salad

  • Chop the kale into small bite sized pieces and sauté in a large skillet for 3-5 minutes until softened and slightly wilted. Remove the kale from heat and let cool. You can substitute with spinach if you prefer.
  • Combine canned lentils, whole or halved cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives and kale in a large bowl. Gently toss all ingredients together.
  • Pour in the ginger dressing. Gently toss lentil salad with the ginger dressing together until fully incorporated.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

PREPARING AND STORAGE TIPS:
  • The lentil salad with ginger dressing can be served right away or stored up to 5 days in the fridge.
  • Store lentil salad separately from the ginger dressing so that the salad doesn’t become mushy.
  • Substitute spinach for the kale. You can cook down the spinach if you like or serve it raw as a fresh summer salad.
LENTIL SALAD VARIATIONS:
  • Mediterranean Lentil Salad – Combine lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, capers and parsley and pair with an olive oil based dressing like olive oil and fresh garlic or a hummus dressing. You can add fresh vegetables like zucchini, mushrooms, roasted red peppers and eggplant.
  • Greek Lentil Salad – Combine lentils, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, vegan feta cheese (or feta for vegetarian lentil salad), rice wine vinegar, garlic and olive oil. You can throw in some quinoa for extra protein and healthy carbohydrates. The feta cheese is what makes this greek lentil salad absolutely amazing. Also feel free to add in zucchini, eggplant, roasted red peppers, banana peppers, capers, etc.
  • Mushroom Lentil Salad – I love this lentil salad recipe too! Sauté white button mushrooms or baby portobello mushrooms and combine with lentils, tomatoes and arugula. Spice it up with garlic, olive oil and red chili flakes for some heat. Drizzle some lemon juice on top before serving and you have a delicious mushroom lentil salad ready to serve.
  • Warm Lentil and Tomato Salad – This is great for a winter salad. Heat up lentils and combine with crushed tomatoes, mushrooms, lemon juice, parsley and chickpeas. Toss in balsamic dressing or a warm garlic olive oil.
 
 
Keyword Cold Lentil Salad, Easy Lentil Salad, Ginger Dressing, Homemade Ginger Dressing Recipe, Kale Caesar Salad, Lentil Salad, Lentil Salad Lunch Recipe, Lentil Salad Recipe, Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing, Lentils, Olives, Tomatoes, Vegan Lentil Salad, Vegan Lentil Salad Recipe

Filed Under: 30 Minute Meals, Main Dishes, Salads, Vegan Dinner Recipes, Vegan Meal Prep Recipes, Vegan Side Dish Recipes

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Lentil and Black Bean Vegan Chili - The Vegan Link Vegan Chili Recipe says:
    March 10, 2021 at 2:23 pm

    […] Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing […]

  2. 8 Meatless Monday Ingredients To Cook With - The Vegan Link says:
    April 1, 2021 at 12:05 pm

    […] in how they can be prepared. You can make your dish in advance and serve them cold, like our Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing, or as a greek salad with vegan feta and olives. On the contrary, make a meaty ‘beef’ bolognese […]

  3. Hummus Veggie Wrap (5 Minute Lunch Recipe) - The Vegan Link says:
    April 15, 2021 at 3:06 pm

    […] Serve alongside with our cold Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing, Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad, or our Fresh Kale Caesar […]

  4. Classic Vegan Potato Salad (Quick + Easy) - The Vegan Link says:
    May 13, 2021 at 12:27 pm

    […] well with Mediterranean Chopped Salad , Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing and Pan Roasted […]

  5. Chickpea Burger Recipe (Vegan) - The Vegan Link says:
    May 20, 2021 at 8:52 am

    […] it healthy: Mediterranean Chickpea Salad, Lentil Salad with Ginger Dressing, Greek Lentil Salad, Mediterranean Chopped Summer Salad, Vegan Kale Caesar […]

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Hi! My name is Mathew and I run The Vegan Link. I have always been a health nut and about 4 years ago I started following a plant based lifestyle. I didn't realize that transitioning to Veganism would completely change my thought process about food and cooking. I still craved all of the traditional dishes I grew up loving, so I made it my mission to recreate the meals we love in it's vegan form! You'll always find quick, easy and affordable recipes made with accessible ingredients on The Vegan Link. Read More…

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