Warm Sautéed Apple & Lentil Salad

Home cooks across Michigan love the great apples available in our state, perfect for cooking or eating on their own. Today, I’m excited to be guest posting for the Michigan Apples blog, sharing a recipe featuring Gala apples (my favorite variety!).

I’ve been completely obsessed with Middle Eastern flavors for some time now. I find it to be the best cuisine for making healthy, fresh (and often vegetarian) ingredients taste incredibly vibrant and satisfying.

I love it so much that I actually found myself eating a bigger dinner the day after Thanksgiving (where we ordered Lebanese carryout for a Friendsgiving get-together) than I did for Thanksgiving dinner. Go figure.

One of the reasons I find the flavors so crave-able is that they often include a nice balance of sweet, savory and salty in each bite. Because the mellow sweetness of Michigan Gala Apples pair so well with savory flavors, I find them the perfect addition to this Middle Eastern-inspired side dish.

Not to mention, apples are high in antioxidants, fiber and vitamin C, boosting the overall nutrition profile of this dish even further!

To prepare, simply cook the lentils with a bit of salt until they are tender. I used green lentils because I had some on hand for Instant Pot Lentil Soup and vegan lentil curry, but any type you have on hand will work. Meanwhile, sauté one chopped Gala apple with a touch of olive oil until the apple is just golden brown and tender.

Toss the lentils and apple with dried apricots, raisins, crumbled feta cheese, parsley, pistachios, olive oil, lemon juice and oregano. A drizzle of tahini (ground sesame seed paste) on top is entirely optional, but entirely delicious. Lemon tahini dressing or even citrus salad dressing would also be delicious here.

To find out more about Michigan Apples, be sure to connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Also, check out the Michigan Apples Blog for more delicious recipes!

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Warm Sautéed Apple & Lentil Salad

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried green lentils, picked through and rinsed
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
• 1 large Gala apple, cored and chopped
• 4 dried apricots, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/3 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/4 cup tahini (optional)

Instructions

1. Place lentils, salt and 3 cups water in medium saucepot; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 20 to 25 minutes or until lentils are just tender, stirring occasionally. Strain lentils.
2. Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add apple; cook 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and tender-crisp, stirring frequently.
3. In large bowl, toss apricots, raisins, lemon juice, oregano, lentils, apple and remaining 2 tablespoons oil until well combined; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in feta, parsley and pistachios. Transfer to serving bowl and drizzle with tahini, if desired. Serve immediately.

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Disclosure: This was a paid guest post written by me on behalf of the Michigan Apple Committee. Posts like this help me pay for the costs associated with this blog (groceries…lots of groceries), and help support me as I pursue a career in recipe development and food photography. All opinions are 100% my own.