Summer Salad Series: Chimichurri Lentils
I love Trader Joe’s. LOVE it. I love it so much that I have been seen waiting outside 15 minutes before they open their doors with the other crazies. I’ve also said many times that I couldn’t live in a town where there wasn’t a Trader Joe’s. That’s not spoiled, that’s being realistic. However, believe it or not, there is one thing about Trader Joe’s that I don’t like and it’s not even the small aisles. Occasionally, they discontinue an item I love without personally consulting me. Oh the horror. A few years ago they discontinued their fresh chimichurri sauce. I have been lamenting ever since. Thankfully, I scribbled the ingredient list down on a post it and tried to recreate the sauce. (I mentioned it a few months ago after Brent and I went out on a date to a little Argentinian restaurant.) The sauce goes really well with grilled chicken or fish. (Or bread but anything goes well with bread.) It also goes well with lentils. I’ve put the lentil salad on top of a green salad as a salad dressing. Make sense? Probably not. Oh well. I like it better by itself anyway.
Chimichurri Lentils
1 Cup of Fresh Parsley (finely chopped)
1/4 Cup of Fresh Cilantro (finely chopped)
6 Garlic Cloves (minced)
1/2 Small Red Onion (finely chopped)
1/2 Cup of Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
1/2 Tbs Lemon Juice
4 LargishTomatoes (Chopped into bigger chunks)
4 Cups of Cooked Lentils*
Salt and Pepper (to taste)
Stir the parsley, cilantro, garlic, onion, vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice together in a small bowl. After the sauce is thoroughly mixed add the tomatoes and lentils. I’v noticed the parsley turns brown after a day. Anyone have any advice to keep it green?
* I typically soak my lentils in water with a bit of lemon juice overnight before cooking. To over simplify, this makes them more digestible. 
Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn
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This is my (almost) sane quest for insane health. Let's 
I’m going to try this! Looking for a good lentil recipe.
ohhh, I love Trader Joe’s, too! I don’t live near one, unfortunately, but this past weekend while visiting friends in D.C. we got to pop in and grab a few items. I even wrote about it on my blog:)
Those lentils look yum^2!
I LOVEEE lentils. Dr. Mcdougal’s lentil soup is TDF! I have never tried cooking my own, but this recipe just may have inspired me!
Yum! I miss the chimichurri sauce from Gaucho Grill something fierce! It’s the best I’ve ever had.
NEver heard of Guacho Grill. Must consult google.
We don’t have a TJ’s in Oklahoma! ANYWHERE! We are catching up with the times and gettinga Whole Foods next year but I want TJ’s!!!
Dude. TJs never talked to me before they discontinued the crushed ginger OR the Cuban Mojito simmer sauce. I’m still fuming about that.
Was the Cuban Mojito sauce green??? I think I may have had it once or twice and it was REALLY good. Or maybe I’m thinking of something else? Either way I’m baffled they didn’t consult you. Just baffled. What sort of customer service is that?
I have yet to discover a Trader Joe’s. The nearest one is a few hours away from me, but I’m determined to get to one….SOON!!
I love TJ’s too!! That salad sounds so good!! The flavor combination is perfect!!
Hi there – well I hate when TJ’s goes and does that. The horror is right. I am upset though – b/c I don’t know what chimchiri sauce is? Help!
It’s an Argentinian sauce. If you leave out the tomatoes and lentils in the recipe you will have just the sauce. I love it!
I have quite a few things about tj’s that I don’t like: one is that they are notorious for lying on their labels about nutrtionals- booo.
I wonder is it the cloves that makes the sauce Chimichurri-esque. I guess I am just not familiar with the sauce, but it sounds like I should change that and stat.
I love the photo on the stripey placemat- it’s purrrrrty, as is the dish itself. why are lentils just so gorgeous?
PS I didn’t know that people wait outside of Tjs before it opens. The fact that you weren’t the only one should bring you much comfort
Tell me it isn’t true. I feel like I’ve just been punched in the gut without warning.
I think its the parsley, red wine vinegar, and garlic that gives chimichurri the strong flavor. I could be wrong.
I’ve never made a chimichurri sauce. Your dish sounds really good. And I think putting the lentil salad on top of another salad as dressing makes a lot of sense!
Not only do I live in a town without a TJ’s, I live in a STATE without one! C’mon, Florida, get your act together!!!