There’s not a lot you need to make a healthy bowl of salad yourself, and this cucumber bell pepper lentil salad is the perfect example of just that.
The salad is crafted using simple pantry staples and is rich in protein, fiber and other macro and micronutrients. And despite all that, it actually tastes incredibly delicious too!
Scroll down to take a quick look at everything you need to know about making this salad.
Ingredients For the Recipe
To make the cucumber bell pepper lentil salad, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients.
- Cucumber (chopped): ¼ cup
- Red, green, yellow bell pepper (chopped): ¼ cup
- Pineapple (chopped): ¼ cup
- Onions (chopped): ¼ cup
- Split orange lentil or masoor dal (boiled): ¼ cup
- Kasundi or mustard paste: 2 tbsp
- Red chili powder: 1 tsp
- Chaat masala: 1 tsp
- Salt: ½ teaspoon or as per taste
- Coriander leaves (finely chopped): For garnish
How to Make the Cucumber Bell Pepper Lentil Salad
Once you have your ingredients ready, here’s the step by step process you’ll need to follow.
In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients one by one
add spices and kasundi and mix well.
Serve as a delicious protein and fiber rich side to your meals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apart from the cucumber and different bell peppers, you can also add some other fresh veggies into the salad.
Chopped tomatoes can lend a nice bit of tanginess, while carrots can add a nice crunch factor to the salad. You can also add some diced cucumbers into the mix if you want to.
This salad is also a great way to get some greens on your plate.
You definitely can! Red lentils are an absolute classic and are super easy to work with, which is why we’ve used them for this recipe.
If you don’t have them, you can use canned chickpeas, kidney beans or white beans to get some of that protein into the salad.
The kasundi is what lends this salad that earthy, rustic flavor. If you don’t have it, you can use mustard paste or even some American mustard instead.
Like most other salads, this one tastes best when put together and consumed fresh. If you do have some leftovers, you can transfer them to a food safe container, preferably one with an airtight lid, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours.
Tips & Tricks to Make the Cucumber Bell Pepper Lentil Salad
While making this nutritious and healthy salad is super easy, you might want to take note of these little tips and tricks.
- When boiling the red lentils, make sure you don’t end up over cooking them. You’ll ideally want to cook them to the point where they are just done, but don't end up getting mushy when mixed with other ingredients.
- To bulk up the salad, you can also add some roughly chopped lettuce or cabbage into the mix.
- For extra flavor and nutrition, use red cabbage instead of regular cabbage.
- Another great idea is to first roast the bell peppers on high heat until they develop that nice char on the outside, and then use them for the recipe.
- Chopped mangoes can also be a great addition to the salad. They are chock full of vitamin C, fiber and other nutrients.
- To elevate the flavors of the salad, you can also drizzle a bit of lemon juice on the top, right before you serve.
- For some healthy fats, a good drizzle of olive oil (preferably extra virgin) should do the trick.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
This cucumber bell pepper lentil salad is full of flavor, and packs in a ton of protein and fiber. You can enjoy it as a light lunch, or serve it on the side with any other main of your choice.
Since this salad has predominant Indian flavors, it makes sense to team it up with a delicious curry.
If you enjoyed trying your hands at this recipe, and are inspired enough to give some more such recipes a shot, here are a few handpicked ones you might want to check out.
📖 Recipe
Cucumber Bell Pepper Lentil Salad
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Cucumber , (chopped)
- ¼ cup Red, Green, Yellow bell pepper , (chopped)
- ¼ cup Pineapple , (chopped)
- ¼ cup Onions , (chopped)
- ¼ cup Split orange lentil or masoor dal , (boiled)
- 2 tablespoon Kasundi or mustard paste
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Chaat Masala
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 sprig Coriander Leaves , (finely chopped)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients one by one and mix well.
- Serve as a delicious protein and fiber rich side to your meals.
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