Beluga lentil salad with leftover cobs and grilled cheese

Beluga lentil salad

Bring your leftover peel back to life with this salad of beluga lentils, corn and grilled cheese. It's local, tasty and zero-waste!

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (175 mL) dried black beluga lentils, rinsed. You can find Canadian organic lentils, among others, at Aliments Merci.
  • 750 ml (3 cups) shucked corn, cut in large chunks (± 4 ears)
  • 500 ml (2 cups) cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 500 ml (2 cups) watermelon cubes
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 1/4 cup (60 mL) fresh mint, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 30 ml (2 tablespoons) strong mustard
  • 45 ml (3 tablespoons) cider vinegar
  • 2.5 ml (1/2 teaspoon) honey
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 60 ml (1/4 cup) sunflower oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A few drops of your favourite Quebec spicy sauce (optional)
  • 1 piece, approx. 200 g Quebec grilling cheese, cut into 15 slices

Preparation

  1. Bring a one-litre cauldron of water (4 cups) to a boil and simmer the lentils in the water for 20-25 minutes. Drain and pour into a large salad bowl.
  2. While the lentils are cooling, prepare the vinaigrette in a small bowl by mixing the mustard, vinegar, honey and garlic, then whisking in the oil. Salt and pepper to taste, and add a few drops of hot sauce, if desired.
  3. Add the tomatoes, watermelon cubes, green onions and herbs to the lentils in the bowl.
  4. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and mix gently.
  5. In a nonstick skillet or on the barbecue, toast the cheese slices for about 2 minutes per side, or until the slices are nicely browned.
  6. Serve the salad with a few slices of grilled cheese. Adjust salt, pepper and hot sauce to taste.
Preparation
30 minutes
Cooking
25 minutes
Servings
6 servings
Category
Main dishes
Recipe by
Julie Aubé

Julie's tip: It's hard to know exactly how many ears of corn to boil for your corn roast? Don't worry, just round up generously, so that you'll have leftover corn to cook for future meals! (And don't forget to freeze some to stock up on summer flavour for the colder months!)