Lemony Lentil and Chickpea Salad with Radish and Herbs
A filling vegan and gluten-free bean salad flavored with lemon, fresh mint and dill. Ready in under 20 minutes.
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on September 3, 2024
Do you all watch “Scandal”? I rarely watch TV, but I found that show on Netflix the other day and I’m hooked. It’s dramatic, even soap-opera silly sometimes, but I can’t stop hitting play. I also can’t stop admiring the main character’s wardrobe. Ms. Olivia Pope always looks so perfect and polished. She makes me want to strut around in classy coats and elbow-length leather gloves. I don’t care if it’s seventy degrees outside! Where are my fancy cashmere coats? Where are my red-soled stilettos?
Sigh. Even if I could afford such gorgeous apparel, I’d twist my ankles in those four-inch Louboutins and drip ketchup down my white silk blouses. No doubt about it. Fortunately, this blogging gig doesn’t require a fancy wardrobe. I could be working in my pajamas for all you know. (Maybe I am! Ok, I am.)
We’ve just struck on the primary reason I love posting about food, rather than fashion or interior design or even travel—because I get to promote something that’s actually attainable. And good for you. You could stop at the grocery store on the way home and have this healthy salad for dinner tonight.
I always say this, but this salad is definitely my new favorite. It’s bold and brightly flavored, similar to my Mediterranean bean salad. The radishes lend a lovely, spicy crunch and the mint and dill make the salad taste alive. It’s a fun alternative to classic lentil salad.
I’ve made this salad a few times now, with both freshly cooked lentils and Trader Joe’s steamed lentils. It’s great both ways, but I’d suggest using pre-steamed lentils if you’re in a hurry. It’s a prime candidate for potlucks and work lunches, as it packs well and keeps for a few days in the refrigerator. Dare I call it a new classic?
Watch How to Make Lemony Lentil and Chickpea Salad
Lemony Lentil and Chickpea Salad with Radish and Herbs
A fresh and filling bean salad flavored with lemon and fresh mint and dill. Use steamed lentils and canned chickpeas for a meal ready in under 20 minutes. This salad keeps well for a few days in the fridge and packs great for lunch! Recipe yields about 5 ½ cups (4 to 6 servings).
Ingredients
Lentils (cook your own, using the ingredients below, or use one 17-ounce package of steamed French lentils instead)
- 1 ¼ cups dried black beluga lentils or French green lentils
- 1 large garlic clove, halved lengthwise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Lemon dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons’ worth)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained, or 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas
- 1 big bunch of radishes, sliced thin and roughly chopped
- ¾ cup chopped fresh, leafy herbs, chopped (combination of parsley, mint and dill recommended)
- Optional garnishes: sliced avocado, crumbled feta or goat cheese, handful of fresh leafy greens
Instructions
- To cook the lentils: Pick over the lentils to remove any bits of debris. Rinse the lentils under running water in a mesh colander. In a medium pot, combine the lentils, garlic, olive oil and 4 cups water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook until the lentils are cooked through and tender, which will take somewhere between 20 to 35 minutes. Drain the lentils and discard the garlic cloves.
- To make the dressing: Whisk together the ingredients in a small bowl.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the lentils, chickpeas, chopped radishes and herbs. Drizzle in the dressing and toss to combine. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. Serve with avocado, crumbled cheese or fresh greens if you’d like.
Notes
Recipe inspired by Deb’s lentil and chickpea salad.
Make it vegan: Use maple syrup instead of the honey.
2024 edits: I reduced the amount of dried lentils to match the store-bought option, which yields a more balanced salad. I increased the olive oil and herbs as well.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. See our full nutrition disclosure here.
This is one of my favurite salads ever. I used to work in a cafe that featured this salad and it was my staple lunch, every day, all week.
I must re-create! Thank you for the recipe it looks delicious
This looks like a super filling salad–the best kind! A salad that can be the whole meal. :)
What a gorgeous salad. On my list of things to make next week! I love your photography and writing.
Thank you, Emily!
Great minds think alike. We just made a very similar salad tonight. So good. Now I just need to eat dessert and find Scandal on Netflix!
Beware, you might get sucked in! I gotta finish season two so I can have my life back.
So happy you posted this! We picked up some gorgeous watermelon radishes and this is just the thing to show off their amazing color and flavor. Many thanks! :)
Perfect! Hope you love the salad. The radishes lend such a lovely bite to it.
Thanks for the recipe! It sounds so good that I just must try it!
This looks lovely! I can’t get enough radishes right now!
I wish I could pull off some of Olivia’s outfits too! Such a classy lady. I know that if I wore some of those coats, it would look like some weird poncho on me, not sure if it would have the same lovely effect ;)
Haha! Olivia really can rock those elbow-length poncho coats, can’t she?
Kate,
I just wanted to say a huge thank you. I have just broken up with my long-term boyfriend and feeling pretty negative about life, dreading being on my own each night after work. Then I gave myself a bit of a shake and thought that if I was going to be on my own, the way I should look at it is to treat and love myself the way somebody else would. Part of this was starting to think about healthy eating – before I’d eat the same carby thing every night, having no energy and no get-up-and-go. I came across your blog randomly when searching for a cookie recipe (!) and it has saved me from wallowing and inspired me to look after myself through the way I eat; it’s made me laugh and sympathise and root for you; and it’s given me a new passion, which is cooking healthily. I can’t wait to get home now after work and try your latest recipe, and invite friends over to enjoy them too. Keep the ideas coming, your blog means so much more than you think.
Laura x
Laura, your comment gave me goosebumps. Thank you. I’m so glad you found my little blog and that you are taking good care of yourself. I endured a really tough breakup last year so I can totally relate to how you are feeling now. I hope you and your friends share some laughs over this salad. Big hugs to you!
This actually brought tears to my eyes, Laura. Very heartfelt and lovely, and what a tribute to the inspiration of this blog (which is why I read it too). With your spirit and wisdom, you’re going to get through this tough time just fine. You’re an inspiration yourself. You go, girl!
Thank you Kate and Marcia. Your replies mean a lot :) Lots more laughs and salads and good things to come, I hope!
Who needs heels when you can have lentils? My kind of spring salad for sure – so light and packed full of health. Looks great Kate!
I absolutely love simple salads like this!! Perfect for warmer weather. Yum, yum!
I would never have thought to combine lentils and chickpeas, but it totally makes sense – now that you mention it. I might not be able to resist adding the optional feta, though!
P.S. Cookie looks so adorable in your piccie above … again!
This salad sounds like the perfect spring lunch! I would serve a big scoop over a plate of shredded lettuce or spinach and be super happy. :) I bet it would be excellent for work lunches too.
I completely agree – Olivia Pope’s wardrobe is definitely one to covet!!!
I got totally hooked on watching Scandal through Netflix a few months ago, but I’m a major wimp and had to stop somewhere in the second season because I started having nightmares, haha. I love any salad with beans, crunchy vegetables, and a lemon dressing! I also love what you said about the attainability of food blogs over fashion and travel blogs, so true! I need this salad soon :)
Does one need to peel radishes ? Thanks !
No, no need to peel the radishes!
I don’t watch a whole lot of TV aside from when I’m running at the gym on the treadmill, but that’s probably because my spare time is spent drooling over delicious looking salads like this one! (Louboutins vs a Vitamix and any other fancy kitchen gadgets? Pretty sure I’d always pick the latter!) I’ve been loving radishes lately, and I love how you’ve paired them with such simple, wholesome ingredients here. Can’t wait to give this a try!
Delicious! Pinned this to my board of “recipes that I will actually try to make”. ;) Thanks for sharing!
Another healthy yet decadent recipe… your pictures of this salad sell it. I have a friend coming to stay this weekend who’s extremely health-conscious and loves lentils, so I’ve just added this to the menu! I love the idea of the lemon vinaigrette. Love the picture of Cookie too. Love all of it! Thanks for the inspiration. P.S. Just added Scandal to my Netflix queue :-)
Thank you, Marcia! I hope you both love the salad. I was disappointed by season two (so soap opera-y!) but the cliffhangers at the ends of the episodes kept me coming back for more.
I was watching scandal last night – i may have to pair my next session with this delicious protein rich salad! Thanks again for the awesome recipes! Do you have any with halloumi cheese?
Hi Penny! No, I’m sorry, I haven’t tried halloumi cheese yet. I’ve been worried that even if I can find it, others might have a hard time finding it… but I would sure like to try it!
This looks fantastic — a perfect way to use the radishes growing in my garden! Thanks!
Oooooo now this is something I’d suit up for.
Yes! This is why I love blogging about food too (although I’m starting to consider a DIY/reno blog for real). It’s an easy way to change your life, whether big or small in terms of impact. It’s vital and elemental to our existence, but it’s also so incredibly everyday. Just the best.
Loving this spring-y simple salad and waving hello from one pyjama-clad blogger to another :) xo
I would totally read your DIY/reno blog! I love all the little peaks I’ve gotten on Instagram so far. Happy weekend. :)
I wasn’t a big fan of this one. A little on the bland side for me. The addition of feta helped things a little bit, but overall I felt it was rather time-intensive for a dish that lacked a lot of flavor. Just my opinion, though! :)
Leanne, I’m bummed that you didn’t love the salad. I don’t find the salad bland at all, as long as there are enough radishes in there to keep the texture interesting. More lemon and herbs definitely would have kicked up the flavor a notch.
I agree. I LOVE this blog and have tried many recipes with huge success, but this one left me disappointed. Not very much flavor. I will try to add some more lemon/herbs to the leftovers, but think I might give this one a miss in the future.
I love anything that’s lemony and lentily…this sounds like such a great combo! Yum!
Looks like a great work lunch staple.
Thanks Kate, trying to incorporate more vegetarian meals into my diet and your site is fab.
You’re welcome, Deirdre! Hope you love the salad.
I own ONE white skirt. I love it in a way that’s probably unhealthy, but it terrifies me every time I put it on. Girl with 27-million napkins in her lap and a bib? That’s me! (PS. I want to cuddle every pic of Cookie you post!)
Haha! I bought a pair of white jeans late last summer knowing that I would stain them, but they were on sale for like 8 dollars. Cookie says hi!
I’ve been trying to resist Scandal until all my other shows finish for the season. then, it’s ON. ANd I fully plan on watching it in my PJs with a bowl of this salad for hugging. I mean, eating.
This is my kinda salad! I love lentils and have been dying to make something with the black beluga ones, but can’t find them anywhere! May have to resort to Amazon grocery… :)
The black lentils are pretty great. I stock up on them whenever I find them. Whole Foods and Natural Grocer’s usually have them, I think, but I know not everyone lives near a big health food store.
This looks superb! I love how versatile salads like this are – you can eat them for dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day, hot, cold, etc. Can’t wait to try this – I love lentils!
I would have a huge bowl of this salad, please, thank you! This one is just perfect. I love Beluga lentils, radishes, chickpeas and lemony mustardy dressings. Yum! :-)
Another winner! I can’t wait for lunch tomorrow. I used parsley and mint and I’m planning on adding goat cheese tomorrow and maybe a hard boiled egg on Tuesday.
Hey thanks, Morgan! Glad you’re enjoying the salad!
I need to watch Scandal! I keep forgetting…isn’t that awful? Old age. This is such a beautiful salad. A friend of mine and I were JUST saying yesterday how much we love salads like this. Full of great grains, beans, veggies and topped with a great dressing…they just become a meal you can eat for lunch or dinner. Pinning right now!
Oh, trust me, Scandal will just eat up your valuable time. I hope you get a chance to make this salad soon! Hearty salads are my favorite meal.
This was so good! I didn’t have garbanzos so I used red beans and a handful of herbs I had on hand… delicious!
Thank you, Sarah! Delighted to hear that you enjoyed the salad. :)
I have to get cooking stat because so many of your recipes are calling my name right now!!!
I watch very little TV, mostly rented movies with my husband or occasionally a series on DVD. I feel like I’m totally out of the loop with many shows at the moment. All those people talking about Downton Abbey? What is that??! I have no idea about Scandal either… is it worth watching? As for this gorgeous salad, oh man. On my to-make list for this week, it’s beautiful! x
I really don’t watch much tv, either, but I can tell you that Downton Abbey is a much better show than Scandal! Both get more soap opera-y as the seasons go on. Hope you get a chance to try this salad soon!
Hi again! Thanks so much for this one! I made it for my husband and I and we loved it so much we made it for a recent housewarming and everyone went wild. The second time I made it I had a guest who is allergic to legumes, so I used cous cous, and arugula instead of the lentils and chickpeas. I was initially thinking I would use barley but the store was out at the time. It came out delicious, despite my pretty big changes. I made 1.5x the amount of dressing to prevent the cous cous from getting sticky. Sent this one to a few guests who had requested a copy! Thanks!
Hip hip hooray! Your couscous version sounds so good.
I’m at work right now eating this delicious salad! I took your advice and got the ready to go lentils from TJ’s and was able to put this together this morning in about 10 minutes. I didn’t measure the herbs, I just added the entire packet from the grocery so it might have been more than called for, but its not overpowering. Mint really makes the salad, its sooooo good! Thank you for all your delicious, wholesome recipes – I especially love all the salads. I’m hoping to welcome the start of summer by trying out some of those amazing drink recipes this weekend!
Cheers!
Sara, thank you for commenting! I’m so glad you enjoyed the salad. The more herbs, the better, I’d say! Cheers!
This sounds great! I might make this for the 4th of July tomorrow. How do you think Thyme would be in it? I love fresh Thyme with any type of bean, but especially lentils, so French! Thanks so much!
Hey Eileen, I think thyme would be nice! Hope your salad is a hit!
I LOVE this salad. I’ve been making it with dill only and serving with arugula. I make a batch and take to work for lunch. Got some family hooked on it too. It’s so fresh!
Hooray! Thanks, Sarah! Glad you’re enjoying this one.
Wow! I think this very close to what I’ve been looking for for over four months! First of all, I think this is the second time I’ve chanced upon your blog in the pursuit of a recipe. I think i should just subscribe.
I had something very similar to this earlier in the year when I was travelling to Paris for work. Our office had catered in a meal for lunch one day, and the starter course (those Parisians don’t cut corners, even with catered boxed lunches) had a lentil and chickpea salad with radishes, dill, mint and carrots. Since I was there for work and in the middle of an all-day meeting, I couldn’t spend too much time deciphering the contents of my lentil salad… although I wish I had! I’ve been trying to replicate it for over four months with not much luck. I think your dressing with the acidity from the lemon and dijon mustard and the sweetness from the agave may do the trick.
I’ll certainly give this a try this weekend!
I hope you subscribe! ;) I hope this salad does the trick for you. You could definitely add carrots!
This was glorious! I’m going to try to see if you’re on Instagram so I can tag you in a picture of this magnificent meal!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
I was looking for a nice lentil salad to help control my binge-eating when stressed (I’ve struggled with BED for some time and when I feel self conscious it gets worse). For some reason when I have something like lentils it makes me feel a whole bunch better and I don’t want to binge anymore, but I didn’t know any simple and yummy recipes that I could pack with me for school and things like that. This is really really yummy and is helping me with my disorder. It’s easy and fairly quick to make, as well as it keeps well in the fridge. I tried it with salad greens and creamy chevre and it was delicious :).
Hey Minna! I’m glad you found my recipe and that it helped you feel better. I absolutely relate to your struggles and appreciate big, crunchy, satisfying salads for the same reasons. You might find some more salads to try here: https://sooka.info/2014/12-summer-potluck-recipes/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
made this the other night. It’s so good! might make it to bring to Thanksgiving at my boyfriend’s parents house
Glad to hear it! Thanks, Sharon!
Just made a big batch of this to throw over greens for the week for lunch! How many days do you think this will last in the fridge? I left the dressing off to the side
Hey Alex! I actually think the salad will last longer if you toss it with the dressing (but keep the greens separate), since there’s citrus in it. I think it should keep for about four days tops.
Making this right now for my lunch tomorrow – it’s looking great so far :)
Hope you love the salad, Aislinn!
I made this last night and it was so yummy! I sometimes struggle with new ideas for salads so finding your website was fantastic! Have started following you now, thank you :-)!!!
Awesome, thank you, Zoe! I’m so glad you found my site!
Looks fantastic! Definitely gonna make it.
Just made this and wanted to let you know that it was absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for giving me the inspiration to start my summer salad rotation. :-)
Really glad to hear it! Thanks, Florence!
Love, Love, LOVE this salad!! The dill and the radishes are simply an amazing combination to all the other flavors. Making the second round right now. I put it in pita pockets and had it for lunch a couple of times. Great to have on hand in the fridge to have something healthy to grab. Thanks and YUM!
Awesome! Thank you, Heather!