Puy Lentil Salad With Feta Cheese

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup puy lentils
• 1 bay leaf
• 3/4 cup green beans, trimmed and sliced in fourths
• 1 carrot, peeled and diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 3 ounces feta, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• sea salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup ham (diced)

Directions

1. 1

   Place the lentils and bay leaf in a saucepan with water.

2. 2

   Bring to a boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the lentils are tender.

3. 3

   Discard the bay leaf, drain the lentils, and leave them to cool.

4. 4

   While the lentils are cooking, chop the beans, carrot and celery.

5. 5

   Put them in a steamer for about 10 minutes or blanch them in boiling water for about 1 minute- they should be crisp, crunchy and bright in colour.

6. 6

   Toss all of the cooked ingredients, along with the cilantro, onion, ham and feta, in a medium-sized bowl.

7. 7

   Whisk together the oil and rice vinegar and dress the salad.

8. 8

   Season with salt and pepper to taste.