Spiced Veg Salad with Cheese and Black Lentils

A rare vegetarian salad from us that is also a true favourite of mine.

We have carrot, squash and pink onion 'chunked' and pan roasted with hot smoked paprika and cumin. (Any onion is fine, mine just happen to be pink).

Diced cheshire cheese, a crumbly and salty cows milk cheese, made near to where I grew up (think Manchester United football players homes and you're in the right region of the U.K). 

Cooked black 'caviar' lentils.  These are great,  they cook in around 20 minutes from dried and keep their shape/texture.

A dressing of cider vinegar (orange and/or lemon juice would be fine), salt, pepper, honey, olive oil.

I love a plated salad, it makes me feel French, a great nation for rocking a salad.  The French trick is to season the dressing well, I find if my dressing lacks sour, first add a touch of salt and taste again. 

Ingredients (2):

Veges/spices:

2 carrots, peeled and cut into thick batons

200g squash, peeled, seeded and diced

1 medium to large onion, sliced into wedges

1 TBSP avocado oil

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp hot smoked paprika

1/4 tsp smoked salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Lentils:

100g black lentils, rinsed and simmered in water until tender (15 or 20 minutes)

Cheese:

Crumbly cheshire, around 100g.  Wensleydale or mild feta will work.

Dressing:

1 TBSP cider vinegar

1 TBSP olive oil

1/2 tsp honey

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper, ground

Garnish:

Chopped chives or mint or parsley (i used chives and parsley)

Method:

Roast the onion and veges in a covered pan, for around 20 minutes with the oil, seasoning and spices (medium to low heat).  After 10 minutes, add a splash of water and after a further 5 minutes, lower the heat and remove the lid (to finish cooking).

Cook lentils (note they can start at the same time as the spiced veges).  Yes, intentionally convenient, hence the choice of baby black lentils.

Make the dressing and dice cheese.

Assemble the salad, dress and optionally garnish.

A similar style of vegetarian salad:

Salad of Beets, Blue Cheese and Apple