Mediterranean Lentil Pasta Salad
This fresh, colorful salad is packed with vegetables, healthy fats, protein, and fiber. It’s quick to prepare, refreshing, and full of flavor—perfect as a light lunch or a healthy side dish.

Ingredients
● ½ cucumber, diced
● 1 apple, chopped
● A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
● ¼ red onion, thinly sliced
● A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
● 3–4 radishes, thinly sliced
● 1 or 2 avocado, diced
● 1–1½ cups cooked lentil pasta, cooled
● A handful of pistachios, roughly chopped
● Crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:
● 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
● Juice of ½ lemon
● 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
● 1 to 2 clove garlic, finely minced
● 1 teaspoon honey
● Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, apple, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, radishes, avocado, cooked lentil pasta, pistachios, and feta cheese.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, garlic, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
4. Serve immediately, or chill for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld together.

Enjoy! This vibrant Mediterranean-inspired salad is fresh, satisfying, and full of wholesome ingredients. It tastes even better than it looks!

Nutritional facts:

This salad bowl has a great balance of fresh vegetables, healthy fats, protein, and fiber.

What’s in the salad

• Cucumber – Hydrating and refreshing.
• Apple – Natural sweetness, fiber, and vitamin C.
• Cherry tomatoes – Rich in lycopene and antioxidants.
• Red onion – Contains beneficial sulfur compounds and quercetin.
• Parsley – High in vitamins K and C.
• Radish – Adds crunch and compounds that support digestion.
• Avocado – Healthy monounsaturated fats and potassium.
• Lentil pasta – Excellent source of plant protein and fiber.
• Pistachios – Healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants.
• Feta cheese – Adds calcium, protein, and a salty, tangy flavor.

Dressing

The combination of olive oil and lemon juice helps your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins from the vegetables, while garlic and apple cider vinegar add flavor and potential heart-health benefits.

For someone interested in reducing inflammation and supporting joint health, this salad is an excellent choice. It combines colorful vegetables, healthy fats, nuts, and legumes—all foods commonly associated with an anti-inflammatory eating pattern.

Adding the cooked lentil pasta also makes it much more filling than a typical salad, providing sustained energy from complex carbohydrates and protein.

This recipe is simple enough for busy weekdays but nutritious enough to become a regular meal.