Chilled French Lentil Salad with Dill and Cucumber

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-20 · Updated 2026-04-20

A refreshing spring salad where tender cooked lentils mingle with cool cucumber and bright dill in a lemony vinaigrette, perfect for picnics or light lunches. This French salad recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs French green lentils, Cucumber, and Red onion into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups French green lentils, cooked
• 1/2 Cucumber, diced
• 1/4 cup Red onion, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp Fresh dill, chopped
• 2 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper

The chef’s knife we’d prep this with → Best Chef's Knives for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Combine 1.5 cups cooked French green lentils, 1/2 diced cucumber, and 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion in a medium bowl. Set aside.
2. Step 2: Whisk together 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/4 tsp kosher salt, and 1/8 tsp black pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified and smooth.
3. Step 3: Pour the dressing over the lentil mixture and toss gently until evenly coated, ensuring no ingredients are crushed.
4. Step 4: Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld, then sprinkle with 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill.