Lentil Celery And Ginger Salad With Cucumber Vinaigrette Recipes

GINGERED LENTIL AND CELERY SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Peel the carrot and cut it lengthwise into 8 strips that are 1/8-inch thick and about 5 inches long. (If it is hard to get strips that long, shorter ones can be used.) Plunge the strips into boiling water for 1 minute, cool immediately under cold water, pat dry and set aside. Put the tomatoes in a fine sieve over a bowl and push them with the back of a spoon to press out excess liquid; set tomatoes aside.
• Put the lentils and the white onion in 2 quarts of cold water over medium heat and cook gently for 45 minutes. Drain, remove the onion and let the lentils cool. When cool, put lentils in a mixing bowl with the celery, red onion, ginger, lemon juice, soy and olive oil. Mix, adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, and chill.
• Put the cucumber, vinegar and mustard in a blender; season lightly with additional salt and pepper, and puree. Set aside.
• Line the inside of a round cookie cutter 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter with a carrot strip. Put the cookie cutter on a serving dish and use it as a mold. Spoon in the lentils and pat firmly. Gently smooth the tomatoes on top in a thin layer. Repeat with the remaining carrot strips and lentils, placing 2 rounds on each of 4 serving plates. Spoon the cucumber vinaigrette around the cakes, garnish with sprouts and parsley, and serve.

LENTIL SALAD WITH MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Rinse the lentils, and discard any pebbles you may find.
• Put the lentils in a saucepan with water to cover. Set the sauce-pan over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Add the teaspoon of salt, the celery, quartered onion, garlic, bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon of the fresh thyme. Simmer the lentils, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or until al dente. (Cooking time for lentils can vary greatly.) When cool enough to handle, fish out the celery, onion, and bay leaf, and discard.
• Whisk together, in a salad bowl, the mustard, vinegar, oil, salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Drain the lentils while warm, and put them in the bowl with the vinaigrette. Toss with the diced onion, parsley, and remaining teaspoon of thyme.