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Spiralized zucchini, cherry and lentil salad with fennel, apple and a sweet mustard dressing.
This colourful, light and refreshing salad takes only about 15 minutes to prepare with a few simple and fresh ingredients, but it’s a real summer treat. In this salad the tangy tartness from the green apple and the licorice taste from the fennel gets perfectly balanced out with this delicious sweet mustard dressing, the fresh, juicy and ripe cherries, and the crunch and texture of the zucchini and the lentils. This salad makes a great side or light dinner, but you can of course always add some vegan feta cheese, grilled tempeh or toasted walnuts and pine nuts to turn this into an extra filling main dish.
You know what? I have a confession to make. I hate to describe my recipes. Seriously, it’s the biggest chore for me. Why? Mainly I guess because of my English. Maybe I should improve my vocabulary which basically consists of delicious, good, so good and soooooo good. Okay, it’s maybe not just my English, I only use the same words in Hungarian too. But hey, is there actually anybody out there, who talks about food in real life as bloggers do on their blogs? Using 63217 adjectives, detailing the textures and flavours hours long while sitting at the dinner table with their families? I really don’t think so. I get the point of a very thorough illustration of the cooking methods, when needed, but I never make super complicated foods so why should I write pages about how I halve the cherries.
Plus I like to think, that YOU, my dear friends, are capable to imagine how a salad would or could taste by reading the ingredient list or looking at the pictures. And I can hardly imagine that somebody who doesn’t find this salad here appetising by looking at the pictures going to want to make it just because he or she reads my description, right?
But don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with bloggers doing this, not at all, all I’m saying is that I realised I’m not into these kind of long explanations. So from now on I won’t overdo my descriptions (not that I did that before anyways), keep it somewhere between the perfect short and sweet and the necessary minimum, you know, search engines and stuff, and trust in you that you can use your wild imaginations. Because I know that you know it too, that fennel, apple, zucchini, cherry and lentil are delicious in a salad!
If you try this recipe, let me know! I would highly appreciate if you could leave a comment and rate it. Also don’t forget to take a picture and tag it on Instagram (use the hashtag #greenevi) or post it on Facebook! I love seeing what you come up with! ♥︎
PrintSpiralized Zucchini, Cherry and Lentil Salad
- Total Time: 15 mins
- Yield: 2 1x
Ingredients
- 1 large zucchini
- 1,5 cup of cherries, pitted and halved
- 1 cup of cooked beluga lentils
- 1 fennel
- 1 green apple
- 1 red onion
- handful of fresh basil leaves
- 1,5 tbsp mustard
- 1,5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1,5 tbsp maple syrup
- salt, pepper
Instructions
- Spiralize zucchini, slice fennel, apple and onion thinly, and chop basil and fennel fronds roughly. Add them to a large bowl with cherries and cooked lentils and mix well.
- For the dressing combine mustard, vinegar and maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper.
- When ready to serve, toss salad with the dressing. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Vegan
Bahahaha! Don’t worry! I HATE describing (and naming) my recipe too! I just want you to taste it and describe it yourself!! 😉
But this looks delicious! All those fruity flavors…YUM!
OMG, totally forgot what a pain naming is 😀
That’s probably even more difficult than describing foods!
Evi i think your English is SUPERB!! And i would have to agree with you – the number of times i’ve used the word ‘delicious’ today alone is sad. We’re all on the same boat 😉
This salad is so interesting to me haha, i would never have thought cherries and lentils would be a good combo but i definitely want to try it now! pinned!
Thank you so much, Beverley!
The point is that in my everyday life I’m perfectly fine with using only ‘delicious’, it’s just that on the blog I physically see how many times I use these words 😀
I’m officially in love with your site, Évi! <3 This recipe is too good to be true 🙂 And don't worry, I struggle with the same – in Hungarian too. 🙂
Thanks, Zita! <3
So good to hear I'm not the only one who struggles with these in English or in Hungarian 😀
Puszi!
Before reading this I had no idea English wasn’t your first language! You sound like a natural English speaker for sure 🙂 And I think your food descriptions are great too 🙂
Sarah, that’s the nicest comment I’ve ever received <3
When it comes to describing a dish, I am with you, Evi! Yup, it’s an important part of blogging, but how could you ever describe all the flavors going on? You need to see and feel that, right? Like here: I know this salad is amazing, and I have got to try it (or at least the combo of lentils and cherries) so I don’t need any explanations. But we stll have to do that so let’s enjoy our job:) Well done. Sooooooooooo gooood:))
You said it well, Ben! Let’s enjoy our job 🙂
And yes, you should definitely try the combo of lentils and cherries, it’s such a good one!
You reminded me that I HAVE A SPIRALIZER that have been neglected for WAY too long – haha!
I always forget about mine too, but when the warm weather arrives I start to use it again 😉
I love raw zucchini salads, and I definitely have to buy a spiralizer, is one of those things I’d love to have but think they’re not worth it 20 Euro only to use it twice a year. Maybe I should put it on my birthday list… 🙂 And I know what you mean when you talk about describing recipes, I feel the same. The pictures are gorgeous, they totally make me crave this salad.
Thanks, Adina!
I totally hesitated buying a spiralizer too, exactly for the same reasons you say. But then I got one finally about 2 years ago and I’m surprised too, how often I actually use it. I make so many raw salads in the summer with it, then when it’s colder and I love to use it for veggie chips and warm sweet potato and potato noodles 🙂
Girl… sometimes it’s just straight-up delicious. O-kay?? Haha. I know, sometimes I’m like, did I just say that AGAIN?? Okay, I’ve got scrumptious, scintillating, droolworthy, crispy, moist, delightful, refreshing… and then I’m out. Lol. And THIS: “trust in you that you can use your wild imaginations.” Bahahaha. You *always* crack me up! I’d say that your photos pretty much speak for themselves. I mean, seriously, search engine stuff aside, if a blogger’s got photos like you do, then there’s not much need to be wordy. Meanwhile, I’m loving all of the *delicious* flavors in this dish! Cherries, lentils, balsamic… I can only use my wild imagination to dream about how this must taste. 😉
Have an awesome weekend my friend! Pinning, naturally. xoxo
Okay, I’m pretty sure I’ve said that a million times too, but seriously, you are just the sweetest person! 🙂
Not to mention, I feel the exact same way about your pictures. You don’t need to say a word to make me wanna eat all your delicious food! <3
Me… sweet? Must be from all of that chocolate. Lol. 😉 I’m just tellin’ ya like it is. But you know your photography is on point. Still, never hurts for me to state the facts. 🙂
Thank you E. I’m sure *I* say this all the time, but I’m glad we’re friends. Yay, friends! 😉 Lol. Can’t wait to see what ya post next. <3
Still, super sweet!
I have to start to eat more chocolate so I’ll become that sweet too 🙂
Hahaha, I am also in the same boat when it comes to describing food. But I guess as far as the dish is super awesome then words such as delicious and so good deserve to come many times in a single post! 😉 Zucchini and cherry sounds like a divine combo, Evi. And adding lentils is making this salad more appealing and delicious. I can imaging all crispy, moist and refreshing flavors in a single spoon. Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
Thanks, Anu!
I’m so happy to know that secretly everybody struggles a little with the descriptions 😀
Have a great weekend too, Anu!
So colourful and beautiful..and I adore the combo of flavour. A fantastic salad, Evi.
Thanks, Angie 🙂
YUM!! Evi this recipe looks amazing! SO fresh and delicious! I love that you added cherries! They add such a nice, natural pop of flavor! Thanks for sharing babe! Hope that you have a fantastic week!
xoxo Cailee!
Thank you so much, Cailee!!! Have a fantastic week too 🙂