Lentil and Quinoa Citrus Salad

You could call 2011 the year of new experiences, with new workouts, new friends, a new relationship and new food. With all that new food comes trying to teach myself to like some basic foods that are so good for you but I just can’t seem to get past the taste; beets, tuna and lentils. Lentils to me seem so mushy and blah but I know they can be so much better! They are full of complex carbohydrates, protein, fiber and essential vitamins and minerals and are really affordable. So what’s not to love about them?

I figured I owed them a fair shot, I gave beets a good solid 10 tries and know I like them so I can do the same with lentils right? Maybe Yes! Insert a Lentil and Quinoa Citrus Salad that can be served warm or cold and I might be more willing to believe that. I came across a lentil recipe in Experience Life that I knew with some tweaking could be really fantastic.

Ingredients

1 cup green lentils, sorted and rinsed
1 tbsp garam masala curry powder
3 cups vegetable stock
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
1 cup vegetable stock                                                      

1 can mandarin oranges
2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Salt/Pepper

Directions

Bring the lentils, curry powder and stock to boil in a medium saucepan, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until lentils are
al dente. Strain in a small colander.

Stir quinoa in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat until dry and light brown. Add onion, carrot and bell pepper and cook one minute. Add vegetable stock, bring to boil, turn heat to simmer and cover until all the liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl, gently toss the cooked lentils and quinoa with the oranges, mint, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper

I will admit that I was a little hesitant to try this but it really is good! The lentils weren’t mushy, I loved the hint of Indian flavor from the garam masala and the mint gave it the perfect amount of herbal flavor. I might even say I loved the lentils. But that would probably be taking it too far. I can say that I really liked them!

Served with a side of pea pods, the rest of the red pepper, a small pink lady apple and a few slices of cheddar cheese and I am a happy girl.

Now if teaching myself to like other things like running, white wine, and that creepy guy at the gym who won’t leave me alone, were as easy as teaching myself to like lentils I would have life all figured out. Oh well.