Roasted sweet potato, brussels sprouts, red onion and warm lentils are topped with the most divine Maple Mustard Tahini Dressing.

This hearty salad is a savory dinner made with minimal effort that’s sure to become a new favourite, especially since the whole thing is made in one pan.

Having a few really good sheet pan meals like this One Pan Roasted Chicken with Chickpeas and Tomatoes and Sheet Pan Spring Salmon with Potatoes & Asparagus in your back pocket for busy weeknights is a must. And, this lentil harvest salad is a new recipe you need to add to your list!

The combination of just crisp lentils with roasted sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts and red onion tossed with a maple mustard tahini dressing is a bite not to be missed.  By adding chopped dates and crunchy pumpkin seeds you get a comforting and cozy meal with a ton of textures and flavours, an absolutely delicious salad!

If you’ve never had a sheet pan warm salad before, this is the one to try!

Why you’ll love this warm lentil salad

• Fiber-rich lentils add a boost of protein to this salad too, giving each serving 20g of protein!
• This warm salad is versatile and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways – right out of the oven, room temperature or cold.
• Everything is roasted on one sheet pan making for a simple dinner and easy cleanup.
• Packed with vegetables like sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts that provide a variety of nutrients and are packed with fiber too.
• There’s no need to cook the lentils beforehand – just use canned cooked lentils.

Ingredients needed to make this harvest salad with roasted vegetables

Sweet potatoes: sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber and are so good when roasted! In a pinch, you could use chopped butternut squash insteaad

Brussels sprouts: make sure to cut the stems / bottoms off first before halving or quartering the brussels sprouts; I like to quarter the brussels sprouts if they are on the larger side

Red onion: red onions go really well with the other fall flavours and become tender once roasted

Lentils: use canned lentils that have been drained and rinsed as these will roast quickly along with the other vegetables; I do not recommend using dried lentils but if that’s all you have, make sure to cook (boil) them first and drain them before making this recipe

Olive oil: olive oil is a must to add to the vegetables and lentils before roasting

Fresh rosemary: rosemary is one of my favourite herbs to use in the Fall and Winter; it adds a warming flavours to this sheet pan warm lentil salad. If you don’t have fresh rosemary, you can substitute with 1 tsp dried rosemary.

Maple syrup: maple syrup is a key ingredient in the dressing for this lentil and roasted vegetable salad

Mustard: mustard is the second key ingredient in the maple mustard tahini dressing; my favourite mustard to use is Smak Dab White Wine & Herb but you can also use dijon mustard

Tahini: creamy, nutty tahini brings the entire creamy dressing together

Dates: chop up medjool dates to add an extra flavour element to this salad and balance out the roasted vegetable flavours; they’re also packed with antioxidants!

Pumpkin seeds: pumpkin seeds, also known as pepitas add the most delicious crunch to this warm lentil salad

How to make this warm lentil salad

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Make the dressing: In a small mixing bowl whisk together the tahini, mustard, maple syrup, lemon juice, pressed garlic clove, kosher salt and black pepper. Once combined, add 3 tbsp cold water and whisk until it becomes a creamy, smooth dressing. If desired, add an additional 1 tbsp cold water and whisk again.

Step 3: In a large bowl combine lentils, the chopped sweet potatoes, halved or quartered brussels sprouts and chopped red onion. Add olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh minced rosemary. Toss everything together in the bowl and make sure everything is well-coated.

Step 4: Add the lentil mixture from the large bowl onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet and spread out into an even layer.

Step 5: Roast for 20 minutes, tossing everything on the pan at the 20 minute mark. Put back in the oven and roast for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven.

Step 6:  Serve the salad in a large serving bowl or on a serving platter and add the chopped dates and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle the dressing over, toss and then enjoy! Alternatively, you can add the chopped dates and pumpkin seeds directly to the sheet pan, drizzle with the dressing and serve right from the sheet pan onto plate.

Expert tips

• Make sure you use as large a sheet pan as possible so everything roasts thoroughly. I use a sheet pan that is 21 inches by 15 inches
• If you don’t have sweet potatoes, you can swap for butternut squash or even carrots.
• Broccoli can be swapped in for brussels sprouts if thats more of your preference.
• Make this warm lentil salad go even further by serving with peppery arugula.
• You can also top this salad with your favourite protein or serve with a protein like roast chicken.
• Red onions can be swapped for chopped shallots if you desire or if that’s all you have on hand.
• If you don’t have fresh rosemary on hand, swap for 1 tsp dried rosemary.

Common questions

What if I don’t have a large sheet pan?
If you don’t have a sheet pan where you can spread out all of the vegetables and lentils in one layer, try using two smaller sheet pans to provide more space for all of the ingredients.

What are the best lentils to use for this lentil salad recipe?
You can use any type of canned lentil – most common in grocery stores are brown lentils or green lentils. I do not recommend using dry lentils in this recipe unless you are going to cook them first and then add them to the sheet pan.

Can I meal prep this salad?
Yes, you sure can! To meal prep this sald, bake this warm lentil salad ahead of time, let the salad fully cool and then portion into airtight containers. It will last about 3 days in the fridge.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. It’s delicious cold out of the fridge or take out of the fridge a bit before you’re ready to enjoy to bring to room temperature.

More salad recipes to enjoy from the blog

Winter Citrus Chopped Salad

Easy Thai Inspired Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

Fall Harvest Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing

Print

Warm Lentil Harvest Salad with Roasted Vegetables

This Warm Lentil Harvest Salad is packed with Fall vegetables & 20g of protein per seving! Perfect for a quick dinner or meap prep lunches!

Course Salad

Cuisine american-inspired

Keyword lentil, salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 505kcal

Author Jess

Ingredients

For the sheet pan

• 3 cups chopped sweet potatoes (1/2 inch pieces)
• 4 cups halved or quartered brussels sprouts
• 1 red onion, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
• 19 oz can lentils, drained and rinsed
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary

For the Maple Mustard Tahini Dressing

• 1/4 cup tahini
• 2 tbsp grainy, dijon or white wine herb mustard
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp cold water
• 1 garlic clove, pressed
• 1/4 tsp salt
• pinch ground pepper

For the toppings

• 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted if desired
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped medjool dates

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 425F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Make the dressing: In a small mixing bowl whisk together the tahini, mustard, maple syrup, lemon juice, pressed garlic clove, kosher salt and black pepper. Once combined, add 3 tbsp cold water and whisk until it becomes a creamy, smooth dressing. If desired, add an additional 1 tbsp cold water and whisk again.
• In a large bowl combine lentils, the chopped sweet potatoes, halved or quartered brussels sprouts and chopped red onion. Add olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh minced rosemary. Toss everything together in the bowl and make sure everything is well-coated.
• Add the lentil mixture from the large bowl onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet and spread out into an even layer.
• Roast for 20 minutes, tossing everything on the pan at the 20 minute mark. Put back in the oven and roast for 10 more minutes. Remove from the oven.
• Serve the salad in a large serving bowl or on a serving platter and add the chopped dates and pumpkin seeds. Drizzle the dressing over, toss and then enjoy! Alternatively, you can add the chopped dates and pumpkin seeds directly to the sheet pan, drizzle with the dressing and serve right from the sheet pan onto plate.

Notes

• Make sure you use as large a sheet pan as possible so everything roasts thoroughly. I use a sheet pan that is 21 inches by 15 inches
• If you don't have sweet potatoes, you can swap for butternut squash or even carrots.
• Broccoli can be swapped in for brussels sprouts if thats more of your preference.
• You can also top this salad with your favourite protein or serve with a protein like roast chicken.
• Red onions can be swapped for chopped shallots if you desire or if that's all you have on hand.
• If you don't have fresh rosemary on hand, swap for 1 tsp dried rosemary.

Nutrition

Calories: 505kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 896mg | Potassium: 1326mg | Fiber: 19g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 14843IU | Vitamin C: 83mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 7mg

The post Warm Lentil Harvest Salad with Roasted Vegetables appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

I love the mood of October; give me all the cozy things and all of the Fall recipes!

Plus, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and it’s one of my favourite holidays. So, let’s chat Fall recipes, books and Thanksgiving inspiration!

We really had a beautiful start to Fall here in Calgary (except for that little snowstorm blip but we’ll just skip over that).

As soon as the cooler temperatures hit I’m full into cooking more cozy meals like soups and pastas plus give me allll the cheeseboards. And, I cannot get enough of baking with pumpkin!

One soup we make on repeat is this Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup. It’s extremely easy to make and always a winner in our house. I usually top my soup with extra chili flakes too because I like a little more spice.

If you want a really lovely weekend meal try Half Baked Harvest’s Crockpot Cider Braised Shortribs with Sage Butter Mashed Potatoes – seriously amazing. So many Fall flavours and so worth it!

And, I made Ambitious Kitchen’s Healthy Pumpkin Bread with Maple Glaze and OMGggg! Seriously, it’s so flavourful and that maple glaze just makes it.

So, what’s in season for this month? Here are some recipes to make in October:

Apples: Roasted Harvest Vegetable Bowl

Brussels Sprouts: Prosciutto Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

Carrots: Honey Butter Roasted Carrots & Radishes

Plums: Easy Plum Jam

Sweet Potatoes: Sweet Potato Kale Flatbreads

Tomatoes: Roasted Tomato Soup

All of the produce that’s in season always helps me when planning my Thanksgiving menu. So, this year I’ll be making:

Appetizer:

Festive Market Cheeseboard 

Main Dish:

Turkey

Sauce:

Cranberry-Pear Chia Seed Jam

Sides:

Brussels Sprouts, Carrots & Potatoes (stay tuned to the blog as I have a 3 side dishes on one sheet pan recipes that you will love!)

Stuffing:

Sausage, Apple & Brie Stuffing

Dessert:

Still deciding but my Baked Pears with Cardamom Cream might just be it!

And, one thing I love to have when cooking and baking October recipes is good music; recently I discovered this new band The Highwomen made up of some seriously talented female country artists. A perfect soundtrack to a cozy day in the kitchen or cozying up with a glass of wine and some popcorn (just sayin’ 😉

I’ve got something else cooking behind the scenes which I’ll be launching in early November so stay tuned! Get on my email list to be the first to find out when it launches plus some sneak peaks!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post What’s In Season – Monthly Favourites appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.

This past month flew by and I’ve been enjoying cooking comfy and cozy meals. With Canadian Thanksgiving upon us, I’m so excited for turkey AND all of the amazing side dishes that come with it.

So grab a coffee and come on over for Autumn food inspiration and all of the #foodlove from our Oregon trip!

In mid-September we headed to one of our favourite places, the Oregon Coast. We spent a few days on the coast, walking the beach, taking in the ocean and eating all of the seafood we could.

We stayed in Cannon Beach and to be honest I think it’s one of the most magical places. The scenery is spectacular and if you love the ocean like I do, it’s complete ocean heaven. In the morning’s we’d grab a coffee and then walk the beach for hours. Then we enjoyed a variety of seafood throughout the days.

We made a quick pit stop on our way from Cannon Beach to Portland at Tillamook Cheese where I was in grilled cheese heaven.

Then we drove to Portland for a couple of days where we prepared ourselves to eat all of the delicious things at Feast Portland! This was our third trip to Portland for the Feast Portland event; every year we go we have such an awesome time and enjoy the unbelievable food that we decide to go again. And this year it didn’t disappoint (again!)

We enjoyed our first night’s dinner at Beast, a restaurant I’ve wanted to go to for ages. Each night is a set 6 course menu based on seasonal ingredients and wow did we ever luck out on the beautiful late-summer ingredients. Everyone sits at communal tables which I really enjoyed because it was like being at a dinner party; the people we sat with were fantastic to chat with too AND of course the food was absolutely divine!

Our weekend was a combination of eating and walking the city! On Saturday we had brunch at Tasty n’ Alder. Then, our evening was spent at Smoked, a Feast Portland event where chefs do their take on barbecue. Let’s just say we ate all the meats and enjoyed a number of fabulous cocktails.

The next day we went to my favourite event, Brunch Village! Imagine just cruising around from booth to booth, mimosa in hand, trying creative brunch dishes from local chefs. Hello heavenly!

Two of the highlights for me were the Breakfast Taco from Smokehouse Tavern and the ‘Yolko Ono’ egg sandwich from the food truck, Fried Egg I’m In Love.

And to top off our weekend of indulgence we attended the ‘Feast Like an Italian’ dinner which was hosted in a beautiful garden nursery.

We started off the evening with a delightful cocktail. Then we thoroughly enjoyed the family-style Italian dinner with all of the other attendees at our table.

Needless to say, it was another amazing trip out to the Oregon Coast and Portland. We’ll absolutely continue to go back!

And with Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, many of the recipes in my ‘What’s In Season – October Recipe Ideas’ include ingredients that are the perfect accompaniment to your turkey dinner:

Apples: Apple Cinnamon Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Brussels Sprouts: Prosciutto Parmesan Brussels Sprouts

Carrots: Roasted Harvest Vegetable Bowl

Pears: Cranberry Pear Chia Seed Jam

Sweet Potatoes: Bacon & Sage Sweet Potatoes

Tomatoes: Roasted Tomato Soup

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends!

Until the next cooking adventure,
Jess

The post What’s in Season – Monthly Favourites appeared first on Cooking in my Genes.