Lentil Sweet Potato Salad

Sweet potato lentil salad is an easy Mediterranean-inspired recipe with chunks of roasted sweet potato and a delicious mustard dressing.

For more sweet potato recipes, try our sweet potato salad, sweet potato gnocchi, and sweet potato chili.

Lentils and sweet potatoes, married by a Mediterranean-tasting cumin and paprika dressing, are an excellent flavor match.

Inspired by our Moroccan carrot salad, sweet potato lentil salad will impress for its simplicity and bold taste.

You can serve it warm or at room temperature, like our lentil quinoa salad.

The recipe combines tender and slightly caramelized chunks of sweet potatoes with nutritious lentils.

If you are curious to learn more about lentils, check out our guide on how to cook lentils, which includes 23+ delicious and easy lentil recipes.

Finally, crumble some feta cheese to make this dish even tastier.

Its creamy texture and bold, savory taste meld perfectly with nutty lentils and naturally sweet spuds.

Quantities are in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

• Sweet potatoes: We recommend the classic orange sweet potatoes you can find in most supermarkets. When roasted, the sweet potatoes become caramelized and slightly smokey, and their tender texture soaks up the flavor and aroma of the cumin dressing.

• Lentils: You can use canned lentils or dry lentils that you previously cooked in water for 15 to 30 minutes. Here’s our guide on how to cook lentils. Brown lentils, green lentils, black lentils, and French Puy Lentils are best for this recipe because they have a delicious bite.

• Parsley: Try to find fresh flat-leaf parsley to give this salad a fresh Mediterranean taste.

• Optional: feta and pistachios. You can also substitute non-dairy feta for regular feta.

Mustard Dressing: Olive oil, Lemon juice, Mustard, Garlic, Cumin, and Paprika.

US cups + grams measurements in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Roast the sweet potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces, transfer them onto the baking tray, and toss with olive oil, salt, and black pepper.

Arrange on a single layer and roast for about 20-25 minutes or until fork tender and slightly caramelized.

To cook them in the air fryer, add the sweet potato cubes to a bowl, toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then transfer to the air fryer basket. The cubes CAN overlap.

Air fry at 400°F or 200°C for about 15 to 18 minutes or until tender and caramelized.

To ensure even cooking, shake the air fryer basket every 4 minutes.

Make the dressing

While the sweet potatoes cook, make the dressing by whisking together extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, American or Dijon mustard, grated garlic, ground cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper.

Mix salad

To a large mixing bowl, add the roasted sweet potatoes – ideally still warm, so they soak up the dressing – canned or cooked lentils, chopped parsley, and the dressing.

Toss well, then transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with toasted pistachios and fresh parsley.

Optionally, add crumbled Greek feta cheese on top.

Lentil and sweet potato salad is wholesome, tasty, and, most importantly, very fulfilling, so we recommend it as a nutritious lunch or healthy dinner with some pita bread or couscous.

It’s great with a yogurt tahini sauce, tzatziki, or a spread like hummus or muhammara.

Make ahead: Lentil sweet potato salad is excellent for meal prep as it keeps well for a few days. The veggies and the dressing have time to meld and grow together into a harmonious dish.

Refrigerator: Store leftover lentils and sweet potato salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

We recommend taking the salad out of the fridge about 15 minutes before eating it to allow the ingredients to reach room temperature and be more flavorful.

Freezing: Not suitable for freezing.

• Mujadara
• Lentil vegetable soup
• Moroccan lentil soup
• Lentil loaf
• Lentil curry
• Lentil bolognese

Or check out our compilation with 20+ lentil recipes.

Mains

Mujadara (Lentils and Rice)

Soups

Moroccan Lentil Soup

Curry Recipes

Lentil Curry

Pasta

Lentil Bolognese