Lentil Pasta Salad Recipe (High Protein)

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Parsley, red wine vinegar, cherry tomatoes, tahini, maple syrup, lentils, olives, red lentil pasta, olive oil, lemon, Dijon, red onion, and pepperoncini.

🥗 Substitutions

Puy Lentils - Instead of Puy lentils, you can use any variety of French, green, or brown lentils, or substitute the lentils for 1 ½ cups of cooked beans. Use canned (drained) or ¾ cup dried.

Red lentil pasta - use any variety of pasta, or omit the pasta entirely and add quinoa, farro, or barley instead

Olive oil - Use water instead as desired. The tahini will seize at first, but keep mixing until a smooth consistency.

Pepperoncini - omit as desired or substitute with banana peppers

This 5-Minute Lemon Herb Tahini Recipe also works well with this Lentil Pasta Salad. For more easy and healthy salads, visit my Vegan Salad Recipes page.

📖 How to Make Lentil Pasta Salad

Cook the pasta until al dente. Drained, and rinse under cold water. Set aside.

Sliced pepperoncini, red onion, and cherry tomatoes on a wooden cutting board.

Step 1. Prep: Slice the red onion, and pepperoncini, and halve the grape tomatoes.

Tahini lemon dressing in a white bowl next to a silver whisk.

Step 2. Make the dressing: In a medium bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, tahini, Dijon, and maple syrup. Add olive oil or water to taste. Whisk until fully incorporated or shake the jar with the cover in place. Add salt and pepper.

Lentil pasta salad with green lentils, olives, red onion, red lentil pasta, pepperoncini, and parsley.

Meal prep: Or prep this salad ahead of time and refrigerate.

Lentil pasta salad with green lentils, olives, red onion, red lentil pasta, pepperoncini, parsey and tahini dressing mixed on a white oval plate.

For serving: Add the desired quantity of dressing and mix to incorporate.

💡Expert Tips

Lentils: If you are cooking your lentils, use about ¾ cups dry. Place the lentils in water to cover by about 2 inches high. Add one bay leaf (and kombu if you have some). Bring the water to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until al dente. Do not overcook them. Salt them once they are done cooking.

Dressing: This recipe makes extra dressing. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to one week.

Storage: Refrigerate any remaining Lentil Pasta Salad in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQS

What are the best types of pasta for making lentil pasta salad?

Short, twisty pasta shapes such as fusilli and rotini, as well as cavatappi, and a larger pasta referred to as 'corkscrew macaroni' hold up well to the dressing and play well with added veggies, lentils, and herbs.
Spiral pasta is perfectly designed for pasta salad because all the curves catch the dressing. The more complicated the shape, the more the dressing will stick because of the increased surface area.

Are lentils a good source of protein?

Lentils are second to soybeans in the amount of plant-based protein when compared with other legumes. Lentils combined with whole grains, such as whole-grain pasta, make a complete protein of the same quality as found in meat. But lentils are a healthier choice for your heart and disease prevention.

Pepperoncini vs banana peppers: What's the Difference?

Banana peppers and pepperoncini look very similar, but these two yellow-green peppers have a few key differences.
Banana peppers are a medium-sized bright yellow chili pepper with a zesty, mild taste. They can be eaten raw or pickled and are often added to sandwiches, salads, and even pizzas.
Pepperoncini are a type of yellow-green chili pepper with a mildly spicy, tangy flavor. They are often sold pickled, which imparts more of a sour flavor profile. They are frequently used in Mediterranean-leaning dishes such as antipasto platters, salads, sandwiches, and pizza.
You can use pepperoncini and banana peppers interchangeably, as both will impart a mild heat and tangy, acidic flavor to dishes like sandwiches and salads. However, pepperoncini can sometimes be spicier than banana peppers, so be sure to taste the peppers before swapping them into your recipe.

📖 Recipe

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