BROWN LENTIL SALAD

Brown Lentil Salad image

Provided by Food Network

Yield four servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 1/2 cups dry brown lentils
1 yellow onion, peeled, cut in half and stuck with 2 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 small bulb fennel, minced
6 radishes, minced
1 green pepper, minced
1 carrot, peeled and minced
1 large red onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced or pureed
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 bunch fresh oregano, chopped

Steps:

Rinse and drain lentils. Place in medium heavy saucepan and add onion halves (with cloves), bay leaf, and enough water to cover by an inch. Bring to the boil, reduce to barely a simmer, cover and cook 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper, and a little more water if none is visible when you tilt the pan, and cook another 1020 minutes until lentils are creamy inside but still intact. Drain and remove onions and bay leaf. Let cool.
Mix lentils in a bowl with fennel, radishes, green pepper, carrot, onion and garlic. Make vinaigrette by whisking together vinegar and mustard in small bowl, then gradually drizzling in olive oil while whisking until an emulsion is formed. Pour vinaigrette over lentils and vegetables, add oregano, and stir well. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve at room temperature.