A surprisingly craveworthy lentil salad topped with roasted caramelized tomatoes and brie.
Lentil Salad with Caramelized Tomatoes and Brie

If I had a penny for every time I pass over lentil salads in vegetarian cookbooks (and food blogs), I’d be a rich woman by now.

Just being honest!!!!

Lentil Salad with Caramelized Tomatoes and Brie

And I don’t mean any disrespect to the mighty lentil. I actually love the damn things. They are inexpensive, super healthy and wholesome, and are basically the underrated workhorse of the vegetarian kitchen. Like, who needs synthetic fake meat burgers when you can eat a superfood that comes straight from the earth?!?!

BUUUUUTTT the peanut gallery that is my family is never quite as enthused as I am about them

And they don’t tend to photograph well.

Womp womp.

Lentil Salad with Caramelized Tomatoes and Brie

Then I made it a personal goal for the year to cook my way through every recipe in Ottolenghi’s Plenty cookbook and let me tell you – there are a LOT of lentils.

I have heard some moaning and groaning from my husband when I sent him with lentil salads for lunch (especially when they ALSO contained eggplant – his arch-nemesis) but not a peep when I sent him with this salad.

Lentil Salad with Caramelized Tomatoes and Brie

As it turns out the secret to a magical lentil salad is slow-roasted caramelized tomato wedges made from summer perfect tomatoes. And brie – OF COURSE, BRIE.

The tomato wedges are doused in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then roasted at a low temperature of 300F for one and a half hours. They become insanely sweet and absolutely burst with flavor. They’re basically like candy. It’s pretty amazing.

The lentil salad itself is pretty simple and is comprised of lightly pickled onion slices and a basic olive oil-garlic vinaigrette. Top them with the magic tomatoes and brie slices and you’ve got yourself a great meatless lunch or dinner worth craving.

Lentil Salad with Caramelized Tomatoes and Brie

Lentil Salad with Caramelized Tomatoes and Brie
 
A surprisingly craveworthy lentil salad topped with roasted caramelized tomatoes and brie.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the tomatoes
  • 5 plum tomatoes
  • 8 thyme sprigs
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • salt, to taste
For the salad
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp Maldon sea salt
  • 1⅓ cups French lentils
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 3 tbsp minced parsley
  • 3 tbsp minced chives
  • 4 tbsp minced dill
  • 4 oz brie, thinly sliced
Instructions
For the tomatoes
  1. Heat oven to 300F. Quarter the tomatoes vertically and place skin-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the thyme sprigs over the tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt, to taste. Roast for 1.5 hours, or until wrinkled and caramelized but still plump and juicy. Remove the thyme and allow to cool slightly.
For the salad
  1. While the tomatoes are cooking, place the red onion slices in a bowl with the red wine vinegar. Sprinkle with sea salt. Toss to combine. Let sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.
  2. Place the lentils in a medium pot of salted boiling water. Cook for 20-30 minutes, or until the lentils are tender. Drain well and toss with the sliced onion while still warm. Stir in the olive oil, garlic, and black pepper. Stir to mix and then set aside to cool completely.
  3. Once the lentils are at room temperature, stir in the parsley, chives, and dill. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.
  4. Divide the lentils among 4 bowls. Top with equal amounts of the tomatoes and brie slices. Serve.
Notes
Recipe adapted slightly from Ottolenghi Plenty

 

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3 Responses to Lentil Salad with Caramelized Tomatoes and Brie

  1. rebecca says:

    this looks so good and creative would never think to add brie.

  2. Kate says:

    My husband and I adore lentil salads. My kids? Not so much. It doesn’t help that they really do resemble dogfood.

  3. Pam says:

    My husband isn’t a lentil fan so I rarely cook with them. I could devour this beautiful salad… great flavors & textures.

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