Warm French Lentil Salad

If you ever are craving that classic "French kitchen smell" just grill up some chopped carrots and leeks into a sauce pan and it will teleport you straight into a cozy apartment in Paris!

I was craving something healthy but hearty and it was just too cold out today for a salad to interest me. I found some French le Puy lentils in my cupboard and served up an easy and delicious dish.

So how can lentils be French you might ask? Well, unlike the lentils used in perhaps India or other Asian regions, le Puy lentils are grown in a specific region in France that has volcanic soil giving them a distinctive peppery taste.

The best part about the way the French prepare lentils is that it is just like a salad - you add a mustard-y vinaigrette! My faaaaave.

Here goes:

Step 1: Make French Vinaigrette.

Step 2:  Chop up two carrots and one leek and heat it in a sauce pan with 2 tablespoons of olive oil for about 5 minutes. At the same time, bring 1 cup of le Puy lentils and 4 cups of water to a boil.

Step 3: Once lentils are at a boil, add in the carrots & leeks and simmer for 20 minutes with no cover on the pot. Once done, strain the lentils, carrots & leeks into a bowl. At this point mix in a hefty handful of spinach. Add teaspoon of unsalted butter (hehe). Then after that is mixed in, pour in dressing and let soak in the goodness for about 15 minutes.

Step 4: Add some toasted baguette bites on the side for a good dipping strategy and voila! You have yourself a tasty & hearty meal packed with vegetarian protein, iron & fiber.

Hope you enjoy!