Lentil Sweet Potato Salad

Lentils and sweet potatoes, married by a Mediterranean-tasting cumin and paprika dressing, are a match made in heaven!

Inspired by our Moroccan carrot salad, this recipe has claimed one of the highest spots on our top 10 favorite salads list.

We now have it on rotation with our green bean salad, avocado salad, sweet potato salad, and chickpea salad.

We make this recipe with tender caramelized roasted sweet potatoes, meaty green or brown lentils, and plenty of fresh parsley.

And what makes the recipe come together is an incredible, tangy, and aromatic cumin dressing. You can make it 1 minute with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, ground cumin, and paprika.

Finally, to make this dish even tastier, crumble some feta cheese on top. Its creamy texture and savory taste meld perfectly with both lentils and sweet potatoes.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes come in white, purple, and orange. We recommend the classic orange sweet potatoes you can find in most supermarkets.

We chop peeled sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes, toss them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them in an air fryer or the oven for about 20 minutes.

Cooked this way, they get caramelized and slightly smokey, and their tender texture will soak in the flavor and aroma of the cumin dressing.

Lentils

We generally go for canned lentils, but dry lentils that you cook yourself at home are even better if you have the time.

Brown or green lentils are best for this recipe because they have more bite than, for example, red lentils and keep their shape when we toss them in the salad.

Parsley

Try to find fresh flat-leaf parsley to give this salad that fresh Mediterranean taste.

Feta cheese

Feta is optional, and the salad tastes delicious without it. You can keep the feta out and add some nuts if you are vegan.

Pistachio nuts

Pistachio nuts are optional. We add them for three reasons: 1) we love their taste with the cumin and sweet potatoes; 2) they add some crunch to the salad; 3) their light pistachio green looks beautiful with the bright orange roasted potatoes.

You can replace pistachios with shaved or slivered almonds, toasted pine nuts, or crushed walnuts.

Olive oil

If you can, use extra virgin olive oil for a richer and more aromatic taste. Also, extra virgin olive oil contains more antioxidants than most other oils, which is excellent for your health.

Alternatively, you can substitute regular olive oil for the extra virgin one.

Lemon juice

Freshly squeezed lemon juice adds freshness and acidity to the salad, which helps boost the flavor of the other ingredients.

You can substitute apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar for the lemon juice.

Garlic

You can use finely minced garlic or garlic powder.

Cumin

I cannot describe how well does ground cumin fit with the roasted sweet potatoes and the lentils.

You can find ground cumin in most supermarkets, or you can get cumin seeds and ground them yourself with a mortar and pestle.

Paprika

Sweet paprika is best for the dressing.

Salt and Pepper

Use sea salt or kosher salt to add taste and freshly ground black pepper for a spicy aroma.

Roast the sweet potatoes

Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1-Inch cubes, transfer them onto the baking tray, and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes or until tender and browned.

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.

Mix salad

To a large mixing bowl, add the roasted sweet potatoes - ideally still warm, so they soak up the dressing - rinsed and drained canned lentils, chopped parsley, and the cumin dressing.

To make the dressing add all ingredients (olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, ground cumin, and paprika) to a small jar and shake well, or add them to a bowl and whisk well.

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.

You can pair it with grilled veggies or with a light tofu dish, such as our tofu scramble, marinated tofu, fried tofu, or vegan fish.

We love serving this salad for brunch or lunch on a big plate combined with one, two, and often three of our other tasty salads. Try it with our:

• green bean salad
• watermelon salad
• tomato salad
• chickpea salad
• avocado salad
• tomato cucumber onion salad

Or take your pick from this list of 29 easy and plant-based dinners.

Sweet potato salad

If you are into sweet potatoes, you will love this arugula, avocado, and sweet potato salad.

We make this with a creamy mustard dressing that adds a tangy and slightly sweet taste that pops in your mouth.

Check out our sweet potato salad recipe.

Moroccan carrot salad

Love the cumin dressing? Then you've got to try our Moroccan carrot salad. It's such a simple yet tasty recipe.

It's perfect as a starter with hummus, avocado spread, Moroccan eggplant salad, eggplant dip, and warm pita bread, or as a side dish to many of our delicious plant-based dinners.

You can make this recipe ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days before serving it.

It's perfect for meal prep, and we often make a double batch to have it for the next couple of meals.

The flavors have time to meld and grow together into a harmonious dish.

However, 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.

Storage

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

You can serve the salad slightly cold or at room temperature. We do not recommend freezing this recipe.

More salad recipes

If you're a fan of wholesome salads for lunch and dinner, check out these vibrant and healthy salad recipes:

Or get more inspiration from our archive of healthy salads recipes -->

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