This rice salad boasts some unique flavors in the form of beluga lentils, pistachio and an orange vinaigrette!
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What’s the story with beluga lentils?
Before ordering this salad I’d actually never heard of beluga lentils so I’m guessing you might also be asking – what are beluga lentils?
They are very small, black round lentils and are named beluga for the caviar that they resemble. They don’t become soft and mushy like some other lentils so they work very well in salads and other things you might refrigerate for a bit. Like other lentils, they are high in protein and easy to cook. You may be able to find beluga lentils at your local grocery store, however, it’s easiest just to order them from Amazon.
Since I focus on small batch recipes and my goal is to make cooking accessible not complicated, I also like to give you ideas for using up unusual ingredients you might need to purchase for the recipe. No one wants to go get a bag of beluga lentils and have them go to waste!
If you want to try a few other beluga lentil recipes with the leftover lentils check out this Black Lentil Dal from Smitten Kitchen, this Greek Lentil Salad from Cookie & Kate or this Sauteed Beluga Lentils and Butternut Squash from Sprouted Kitchen.
Cheese or No Cheese? The Option to Make it Vegan
The original dish included Mizithra cheese which is a sharp cheese that has its origins in Greece. I did a little research and discovered it’s pretty hard to come by unless you happen to have a Greek market in town so I decided to come up with a substitute. After a more research and a little trial and error, I decided on feta. Parmesan might have been a more likely choice since the Mizithra was aged on the original salad, but I liked the taste and texture that the soft feta gave it better, so I went with it instead.
If you leave the cheese off, this rice salad is naturally vegan giving you an option if you happen to be feeding someone on a dairy-free diet!
You might have noticed I’ve been publishing a few recipes that have the option to make them vegan. I happen to have two close friends who are vegan and when they come over or are out sailing with me, I like to make sure they have lots of food options too. While there are obviously limitations, when it’s possible and easy, like leaving the cheese on the side for this one, I’ll note how to make it vegan. I’m guessing many of you foodies have at least one friend who is vegan.
If you looking for other recipes with an easy vegan option check out this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad– it gets rave reviews every time I make it!
additional notes from the kitchen
- If you have the option, fresh grape or cherry tomatoes from your garden or the farmer’s market will give you the best flavor. Fresh, sweet grape tomatoes from the grocery store will also work just fine!
- Depending on where you get your beluga lentils, the package may say to rinse them and pick out any “debris” – I don’t usually bother with rinsing them unless they look like they really need it. I do pick out any obvious debris, though you’ll likely find a few broken lentils that you can just leave in the mix.
- I prefer to buy pistachios that are already out of the shell when I’m using them in a dish. While they are a bit more expensive it’s much quicker than sitting there shelling them.
- While I don’t fry often, the crispy shallots that top this salad really do need to be fried to get the right texture. It’s worth a few extra calories and a little mess to make these, as they are the perfect flavor addition for this dish.
things you may want for this recipe
Beluga Lentils – You can check your local grocery store but I find it easier to just order them from Amazon. A bag this size should last you for quite a while and they will keep in a cool dry place like a kitchen cabinet away from your stove/oven.
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PinDescription
This rice salad boasts some unique flavors in the form of beluga lentils, crispy shallots, pistachio and an orange vinaigrette!
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1/4 cup beluga lentils
- 1/2 cup basmati rice
- 1 1/4 cups water, divided
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/3 cup diced English cucumber
- 1/4 cup shelled pistachios
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
- 1/2 tsp orange zest
- 3/4 cup shallots, thinly sliced into rings
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/4 cup avocado or olive oil
For the vinaigrette:
- 2 tbsp fresh orange juice
- 1/2 tbsp champagne vinegar
- 1/2 tsp orange zest
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp finely minced shallot
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Pick any debris out of the lentils then add lentils and 1/2 cup water to small saucepan, preferably one with a glass lid. Cover and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 25 minutes or until lentils are tender and water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Add rice, 3/4 cup water and salt to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil then cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer for 10-12 minutes until water is absorbed. Transfer rice to a medium mixing bowl.
- While the lentils are looking mix the orange juice, vinegar, honey, minced shallot and orange zest in a small bowl. Whisk in the oil until well combined. Set aside.
- Toss the shallots and in the flour to coat. Heat 1/4 cup oil in a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots to the pan and spread into a single layer. Cook for 3 minutes until they begin to turn golden brown. Carefully flip using a pair of tongs and continue to cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from pan and drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.
- Add the lentils, tomatoes and cucumber to the bowl with the rice. Mix well. Add the pistachios, feta, orange zest and dressing. Toss to coat everything. Divide between 2-3 serving bowls and top with crispy shallots just before serving.
Notes
If you don’t want to fry the shallots you can buy high-quality crispy onions, I like Whole Foods 365 brand and toast them for a few minutes to get them extra crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3/4 cup
- Calories: 485
Keywords: rice salads, vegetarian salads
I love beluga lentils!! I need to get my hands on some champagne vinegar though- I’m on the hunt!
Aren’t’ beluga lentils so cool!! I love using them in recipes….and this looks like a healthy, nutritious and hearty dish for lunch for dinner.
★★★★★
I have never heard of beluga lentils! I can’t wait to try them now. And a huge bonus for sharing recipes that will help me finish them off! This looks perfect for my vegetarians guests coming this Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the explanation of what Beluga lentils are. I’ve never heard of them, but lentils are a staple in our house. I’m definitely game to try them
This is such a colorful looking dish.
I absolutely adore Beluga lentils Kathryn. They are so pretty and look stunning in this beautiful salad. Many thanks to Ema for inspiring this. ?
I’m really trying to get my eating back on the healthier track, and this salad looks like just what I need! I love basmati rice and lentils. Definitely going to give this recipe a try
What a delicious salad! With the Holiday season being right around the corner, I need to have this ready for balance!
★★★★★
I love beluga lentils!!!!!! Yours looks like the perfect texture, so I will be trying this out one of these days
★★★★★
I was recently on a business trip to Chicago and had a chance to eat at Ema. What a fantastic restaurant. We had the Beluga Lentil and Basmati salad. One forkful and I was already thinking of how I could re-create it. Next day I googled a bit and found your recipe. Made it last night. SPOT ON! Thank you for posting! I added some fresh chopped mint as I’d had a recollection of there being mint in the salad (only had it the one time), and left out the Feta as I’m currently doing a dairy free food challenge. I’ll be sure to visit Ema again on my next trip to Chicago.
★★★★★
Hi Andrew – I’m so glad you liked it! Ema is such a great restaurant and it was fun to recreate this dish. I love the addition of mint – I’m going to add it next time I make it!!