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Home » Recipes » Single Serving Salads

By Joanie Zisk Published: Jul 22, 2020 · Updated: Feb 15, 2022 · This post may contain affiliate links · Please read my disclosure

Lentil Avocado Salad For One

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a lentil salad with text above the picture.

Easy to make, healthy, and hearty this fresh tasting lentil salad is a delight! Filled with tomatoes, avocados, and topped with a light dijon vinaigrette.

cooked lentils over a bed of salad greens, topped with cherry tomatoes and surrounded by slices of avocado.

This lentil salad is inspired by a lentil avocado salad I enjoyed at Le Pain Quotidien in Newport Beach, California recently. I loved it so much, I wanted to recreate a version at home.

Why This Recipe Works

  • Lentil salad is hearty and filled with flavor. Lentils are briefly cooked on the stove, drained and cooled and then tossed in a simple but flavorful vinaigrette. The lentils are spooned over a bed of salad greens, topped with tomatoes and slices of avocados. A delicious, easy to make salad.
  • Lentils are rich in fiber, protein, iron, and folate.

RELATED: Best Soup Recipes For One

cooked lentils in a pot.

Ingredient Notes

  • Lentils: I recommend using brown lentils. Brown lentils take only about 20 minutes to cook in boiling water. Green lentils take longer to cook than brown lentils. Red and orange lentils will not hold their shape when they are cooked.
  • Onions and garlic: Finely chopped onions and garlic add quite a lot of flavor to the lentils, definitely don't leave them out.
  • Seasonings: Dried thyme, salt, and black pepper
  • Olive oil: I use extra virgin olive oil in this lentil salad recipe as well as in every other recipe on One Dish Kitchen that calls for olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is the least processed form of olive oil. It is an unrefined oil and the highest-quality olive oil you can buy. Because of the way extra virgin olive oil is made, it retains more true olive taste. It also contains more of the vitamins and minerals found in olives. It's my favorite type of olive oil to use but you may use a lighter olive oil instead.
  • Red wine vinegar and dijon mustard: These ingredients add flavor.
  • Lettuce: Use romaine, arugula, iceberg, or spinach as the base of the salad.
  • Tomatoes and avocado: To add to the salad.
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How To Make This Recipe

  1. Cook lentils: Cook the lentils in a small saucepan along with chopped onions, garlic, thyme and salt.
  2. Drain lentils: Drain the lentils in a colander. In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper.
  3. Toss lentils with dressing: Place salad greens on a large plate, toss the lentils with the vinaigrette and spoon over the lettuce. Then, top with tomatoes, and avocado slices.
a bowl of lentils on a trivet.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients left over from this lentil salad recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving recipes:

  • Lentils: Lentil Stew
  • Onions: Vegetable Casserole, Meat Sauce, Pan Fried Okra and Tomatoes
  • Garlic: Chicken Cacciatore, Hummus, Baked Beans
  • Thyme: Crawfish Etouffee, Irish Stew, Tuna Casserole
  • Olive oil: Beef Tacos, Chicken and Dumplings, Baked Chicken Caprese
  • Vinegar: Sloppy Joe, Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
  • Dijon Mustard: Creamy Mustard Chicken, Baked Chicken Wings, Roasted Salmon
  • Tomatoes: Shrimp Pasta, Caprese Chicken, Ratatouille
  • Avocado: Avocado Toast, Cajun Shrimp Tacos, Guacamole

Expert Tips

  • Use brown lentils. This type holds its shape well after cooking.
  • You can enjoy this salad warm or cold.
  • The lentils can be made a day or two in advance and added to the salad when you are ready to enjoy it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Store Cooked Lentils?

Cooked lentils will stay good in the fridge, covered for 1 week.

What Are Brown Lentils?

Brown lentils are the most commonly found lentils and the ones you probably see most often in your grocery store. They have a mild, earthy flavor and hold their shape well after cooking.

an overhead picture of a lentil salad with avocados and tomatoes

Other Single Serving Salad Recipes

  • Potato Salad
  • Cucumber Salad
  • Cobb Salad
  • Italian Pasta Salad
  • Spinach and Orzo Salad
  • Greek Salad
  • Taco Salad
  • Avocado Salad
  • Spinach Antipasto Salad

I use a 1-quart saucepan when I make this lentil avocado salad. For best results, use a pan of similar size.

If you would like additional information about the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.

For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.

RELATED: 20 Single Serving Meatless Recipes

If you’ve tried this lentil salad or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

If you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!

lentil salad with avocados and tomatoes

Lentil Salad For One

Easy to make, healthy, and hearty this fresh tasting lentil salad is a delight! Filled with tomatoes, avocados, and topped with a light dijon vinaigrette.
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
See the post above for expert tips,
FAQs and ways to use leftover ingredients.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Main/Salad
Cuisine: French
Servings: 1 serving
Calories: 352kcal
Author: Joanie Zisk

Equipment

  • 1-quart saucepan

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup brown lentils
  • 1 cup water
  • ⅛ cup chopped onions
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ⅛ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt

For The Dressing

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
  • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

For The Salad

  • 2 cups salad greens (romaine, spinach, or arugula are wonderful choices)
  • 6 cherry or grape tomatoes , sliced in half
  • 1 small avocado , sliced
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place the lentils and water in a small saucepan. Add onions, garlic, thyme and salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Drain the lentils and let cool.

To Make The Dressing

  • Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and pour over the lentils. Toss to coat.

To Assemble The Salad

  • Place the lettuce on a plate, top with the cooked lentils, tomatoes and avocado slices.
  • Enjoy warm.

Notes

Expert Tips
  • Use brown lentils. This type holds its shape well after cooking.
  • You can enjoy this salad warm or cold.
  • The lentils can be made a day or two in advance and added to the salad when you are ready to enjoy it.
Nutrition Facts
Lentil Salad For One
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 352 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Sodium 344mg15%
Potassium 664mg19%
Carbohydrates 26g9%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 909IU18%
Vitamin C 24mg29%
Calcium 37mg4%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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About Joanie Zisk

Joanie Zisk is the creator of OneDishKitchen.com, the number one go-to site for single serving recipes. The aim of One Dish Kitchen is to inspire individuals with access to single serving recipes that will enable them to enjoy the preparation of a meal that will nourish both body and soul. Her website is filled with hundreds of easy, flavorful recipes that are tailored for those cooking for one. Joanie is the author of "The Ultimate Cooking For One Cookbook" and her recipes and food photography have been featured in various publications including, TODAY.com, Huffington Post, Real Simple, Self.com,Women’s Day, Buzzfeed, and others. Come say hello and follow Joanie on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jessica says

    August 05, 2022 at 8:18 pm

    Easy to make and so satisfying on a hot summer day!

    Reply
  2. Ann M. says

    July 15, 2022 at 10:12 am

    Very simple and easy recipe. Especially great for summer days when you don't want to heat up the oven!

    Reply
  3. Janet says

    September 25, 2020 at 3:36 pm

    I love lentils and agree that this is such a simple recipe. Thank you

    Reply
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