Honey Free Pomegranate & Mint Lentil Salad with Cucumber
Bright, jewel-toned, and packed with texture, this lentil salad is the kind of dish that looks like it took serious effort but comes together with minimal fuss. Green or French lentils hold their shape beautifully after cooking, giving you that satisfying bite alongside cool cucumber, juicy pomegranate arils, and a generous handful of fresh mint. The dressing is a simple shake of olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, and turmeric — no sweeteners needed, which means every drop of flavor comes from real, whole ingredients. Many store-bought dressings and grain salads sneak in honey or agave to balance acidity, but here the lemon does all that work naturally. Folding in the scallion greens and torn parsley at the end keeps everything fresh and vibrant rather than wilted or muddy. It works equally well as a light lunch on its own or as a hearty side alongside grilled vegetables or flatbread. The whole thing is as nourishing as it is gorgeous on the table.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the lentils
- 1 cup green or french lentils, rinsed
- 2 ½ cups water
- ½ tsp salt
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp salt
For the salad
- 1 english cucumber, diced (about 2 cups)
- ¾ cup pomegranate arils
- ½ cup fresh mint leaves, roughly torn
- 3 scallions (green tops only), thinly sliced
- ¼ cup flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the rinsed lentils, water, and ½ tsp salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, until the lentils are tender but still hold their shape, 20–25 minutes. Drain any remaining water and spread the lentils on a large plate or sheet pan to cool for 10 minutes.
- 2
While the lentils cool, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, turmeric, black pepper, and ¼ tsp salt in a small bowl until the dressing is uniform and slightly thickened.
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