Quick Tandoori Beef and Lentil Salad
I am all about salads that look impressive but take minimal time and effort. As a busy mum things like curry paste are essentials in my pantry for quick and tasty dinners. Sure I would love to make curries from scratch but this is just not realistic (or necessary) for me right now. I love this salad. Hope you do too!
Time: 20-30 minutes
Serves: 2-3 and can go further if adding wholemeal wraps or pita bread
Ingredients:
400g chicken breast, sliced
2 heaped teaspoons of Patak’s Tandoori Paste
Olive oil
½ red onion, finely sliced
1 fresh red chilli, finely sliced (optional)
1 teaspoon mustard seeds (optional you could also use coriander seeds)
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 can brown lentils, drained
A splash of red wine vinegar
½ of a cos lettuce (about 4 cups), roughly chopped
1 courgette, peeled into ribbons
2 carrots, peeled into ribbons
1 good handful coriander (optional but I think it makes the salad)
1 lemon, cut into wedges
Feta cheese to serve (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Dressing
Juice of 1 lemon
4-5 tbsp unsweetened yoghurt
1 heaped teaspoon of chutney (mango or fruit chutney work best)
Method:
Step 1
In a bowl, combine the chicken and tandoori paste until the chicken is well coated. Heat a dash of olive oil in a frying pan on a high heat and cook chicken for 4-5 minutes, until the juices run clear. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Step 2
Return the pan to the heat and add a little more oil, the mustard and cumin seeds followed by the onion and half of the chilli. Fry for a minute before adding the lentils, red wine vinegar and salt and pepper. Heat through and set aside.
Step 3
Place dressing ingredients in a bowl and combine well.
Step 4
To assemble the salad, place lettuce, carrot and courgette on a large platter with the lentils and chicken. Spoon the dressing over the salad and top with extra chilli, feta cheese, coriander and lemon.
Tips:
I served this as it is but you could have it with wholemeal pitas or wraps if you need to make it go further.
You could use chicken, beef, tofu or tempeh they would all work well.
