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Home Recipes by Type Salads
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian

Lentil Salad with Grapes and Feta

5
/5
40 mins
16 Comments
Jump to Recipe
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 09/15/2011Updated: 06/15/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

With walnuts, celery, and grapes, this lentil salad is reminiscent of a Waldorf salad. Eat it for lunch or dinner as a vegetarian main course, or serve as a side dish.

A large white bowl full of a lentil salad with lentils, celery, feta, grapes, and walnuts. Grapes and feta are also pictured in the background.

Isn’t this salad beautiful? I could eat this every day. It is so tasty! Perfect meal or side dish. 

When I think lentils, my mind automatically goes to delicious health food. Lentils are a versatile powerhouse and so tasty. Did you know that there are different varieties of lentils? They’re usually classified by color and each variety has unique properties and taste quite different.

I love using red lentils to make a smooth, comforting red lentil soup. Brown lentils are the base for this delicious lentil soup with pasta. My go-to use of green (or French) lentils has always been in salads because they hold their shape well and stand strong in a salad. I love this recipe for green lentils with sweet potatoes and kale or this lentil salad full of feta and bright, fresh flavors. Brown or green lentils also make a great stand-in for meat, like they do in my vegan bolognese. Try lentils in your next main course salad like this broccoli tabbouleh with lentils.

Close up view of green or french lentils in a measuring cup.

Aren’t those lentils pretty? I want to decorate my house with them. Pretty lentils = pretty salad, right?

About this lentil salad:

Lentils are easy to cook and can be made ahead. Dry lentils should be rinsed and sorted to remove any foreign material. After you’ve drained them, add them to water and simmer for about 30 minutes, depending on what variety of lentils you use. Drain and cool before adding the rest of the ingredients.

This lentil salad is made with a red wine vinaigrette dressing. Whisk together red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, honey, dried thyme, and olive oil. This dressing is fantastic for most any salad. Make a double batch if you want and save half for tomorrow’s salad.

Toast the walnuts for best flavor. You won’t believe the difference it makes! 

Chopped celery, feta cheese, and red grapes complete this lentil salad. I like red grapes but really, any variety would be fine. Use what you have available.

Enjoy!

Overhead view of two white bowls of lentils, red grapes, celery, walnuts, and feta cheese on a wooden backdrop.

 

Make it your own:

  • Don’t have any grapes? Try chopped apples or pears. Almost any kind of fruit would be great.
  • Replace the walnuts with almonds, pistachios, or pecans.
  • Instead of feta cheese, try crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese. Gorgonzola would be yummy.
  • Don’t want to bother with homemade vinaigrette? Use bottled store bought vinaigrette. Anything that’s tangy and slightly sweet would work.
  • Add greens. Finely chopped kale or spinach would add a nice green punch.

Make ahead and storage tips:

You can easily make this salad ahead and have it in the fridge for lunches. In fact, it would be great for lunchboxes. Prepare the salad, put it into airtight containers, and store in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you want, leave the walnuts out, and stir those in right before serving so they don’t get soggy.

If you want, make the lentils a day ahead and store them in the fridge so you can quickly whip up the salad when you’re ready. Or you can used canned lentils, rinsed and drained well.

Close up view of a bowl of salad made with lentils, red grapes, celery, feta, and walnuts.

 

Looking for main dish salads?

 

  • Taco salad – always popular!
  • Tortellini pasta salad
  • Kale sweet potato salad with quinoa (vegetarian)
  • Moroccan salad with carrot noodles, chickpeas and walnuts
  • Southwestern quinoa bowl with chicken
  • Chickpea salad with yogurt, dill, and lemon (video included)

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Close up view of lentils, red grapes, celery, walnuts, and feta. A shiny dressing is also visible.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Lentil Salad with Grapes and Feta

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
4 servings
Print Rate Recipe
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With walnuts, celery, and grapes, this lentil salad is reminiscent of a Waldorf salad. Eat it for lunch or dinner as a vegetarian main course, or serve as a side dish.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 3/4 cup dry French (green) lentils, rinsed, sorted and drained
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 3/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped and toasted
  • 1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes, halved
  • 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced
  • ~1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled or chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Bring 2 1/2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add lentils, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  • Meanwhile, whisk together vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and thyme. Whisk in olive oil.
  • In large bowl, gently mix together lentils, toasted walnuts, grapes, celery, feta and dressing.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy! This keeps well in the fridge for at least 2-3 days. If desired, reserve walnuts until ready to serve.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g, Calories: 468kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 14g, Fat: 39g, Saturated Fat: 14g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 23g, Cholesterol: 67mg, Sodium: 779mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 15g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
Did You Make This?Be sure to upload a photo & tag me at @RachelCooksBlog. I love seeing what you made!
Share A Photo! Tag on Insta Rate It
Verdict: Love this! The dressing is light so all the flavors came through really well. Make sure you toast your walnuts, it makes all the difference in the world!
Husband’s take: Much to my surprise, he really likes this! I didn’t think it would be his cup of tea. He appreciates the fact that the lentils are high in protein.
Changes I would make: None. Feel free to use fresh thyme if you have it.  If you use fresh, add a little extra.
Difficulty: Very easy!

Close up view of lentils, red grapes, celery, walnuts, and feta. A shiny dressing is also visible.

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  1. Lori Lynn says

    May 8, 2012 at 9:12 am

    What a refreshing combination of ingredients.
    Your new blog style looks quite lovely!
    LL

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      May 8, 2012 at 1:38 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  2. Kristyn Moneyhun says

    October 10, 2011 at 5:51 am

    Admiring the dedication you put into your website and detailed information you offer. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

    Reply
  3. Nutmeg Nanny says

    September 17, 2011 at 6:13 pm

    This salad look great! I love the addition of sweet grapes. I think Artie might have a hard time eating it though. He would probably be searching for the meat…haha.

    Reply
  4. natalie (the sweets life) says

    September 16, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    I saw this in Everyday Food and wanted to make it–I am loving lentils lately! Glad to hear it was good, I’ll have to make soon!

    Reply
  5. Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom} says

    September 16, 2011 at 12:40 am

    Beautiful salad, Rachel! Recipe or not, we still love you!

    Reply
  6. Christina @ This Woman Cooks! says

    September 15, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    What a pretty salad! I like your comment about using quinoa. That sounds like something I’d like.

    Reply
  7. brandi@BranAppetit says

    September 15, 2011 at 11:04 am

    this sounds so good! i love grapes + feta together.

    Reply
  8. Sandi G says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:28 am

    Great colors, good combo of protein, carb & fat. Nice post :)

    Reply
  9. Katherine Martinelli says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:13 am

    Yum, I love lentils and am so happy to have another great use for them! This salad looks perfect – love the salty-sweet element that the grapes and feta bring.

    Reply
  10. Jamie @ thrifty veggie mama says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:13 am

    Beautiful pictures! Looks very autumn-like. I love lentils and will definitely be trying this!

    Reply
  11. Brooke @ Veggie Table says

    September 15, 2011 at 9:09 am

    Veggie Table’s take: DELICIOUS!!! It’s such a yummy looking salad and I love that it has a simple ingredient list! Adding this to my “must make immediately” list!!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:46 am

    Oh, yum yum. I fell in love with lentils when I lived in Spain and my “madre” gave me lentil soup at least once a week. I’ve never had them in a salad, though! This looks really easy and refreshing!

    Reply
  13. Tanya - Three Square Meals says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:38 am

    This is right up my alley. What could be more delicious (and healthy) than lentils, grapes and feta! Thanks.

    Reply
  14. Nelly Rodriguez says

    September 15, 2011 at 8:35 am

    Looks gorgeous, but I am not a fan of whole lentils; prefer then in soups and other. But that doesn’t mean this is less gorgeous!

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      September 15, 2011 at 9:09 am

      Nelly-this would probably be good with barley, quinoa, or even couscous instead of lentils.

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Rachel! Life can be complicated, cooking shouldn't be! I believe that you can put a delicious meal on the table without stressing. It's possible, and I'm here to help. Have a seat at my table...let's chat, eat, and have fun! Read more...

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