This is one of those healthy recipes that I turn to on days when I really don’t feel like cooking much. This salad is packed with nutrients and is really delicious – I heartily recommend it.
Here is the recipe I like to use (serves 4):
Firstly, steam 400g of green beans until they are tender, then plunge into cold water. Make some dressing by combining 100g of Greek yogurt and the zest from 1 lemon.
Get a large bowl and add:
The steamed green beans
2 x drained tins of tuna (160g to 200g tins) – I prefer mine in olive oil or water
2 x 400g tins of lentils (in water)
1 x tablespoon of chilli sauce
1 x tablespoon of olive oil
Juice from one lemon
2 x celery sticks - finely sliced
1 x finely chopped red onion
180g of drained roasted red peppers (from a jar) - sliced
60g of mixed salad leaves
the salad dressing
Season with some black pepper and toss well.
Benefits of lentils:
Lentils often get a bad rap due to their association with gas and bloating. However, lentils are also cheap and nutrient rich - containing protein, fibre, carbohydrates, folate, iron, potassium, magnesium and more! They can improve colon health and also stabilise blood sugar levels. Your gut also adapts when exposed to lentils and other legumes, so eat them regularly and you shouldn’t feel the after-effects quite as much!
Benefits of tuna:
I like to buy tinned Skipjack tuna that is pole and line caught, which is dolphin friendly but also minimises the impact on other marine life. This type of tuna is classified as “Light Tuna”, which contains less mercury, but I still only like to eat it no more than twice a week. Apart from the negative, tinned tuna is low in calories but high in protein - the latter helping you to feel fuller for longer, is good for your bones, can improve your muscle mass, boost metabolism and lower blood pressure.
So the next time you're feeling a bit of kitchen-apathy try this. It’s super good for you and super tasty. Enjoy!