Red Lentil Salad with Dried Fruit & Toasted Pine Nuts

Preparation

1. Bring water, cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan; stir in bulgur, remove from the heat, cover the pan and set aside until the water has been absorbed, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine lentils and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a saucepan; add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a simmer and cook until the lentils are just tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water, pressing firmly to remove excess water.
3. Toast pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
4. Add lentils, dates, apricots, parsley, mint, oil, lemon juice and zest, and half the pine nuts to the bulgur. Toss well. Sprinkle the remaining pine nuts on top.

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

• Ingredient Note: Red lentils are a useful addition to your pantry because they cook in just 10 to 15 minutes. They are excellent in soups, salads and vegetarian stews. You can find them in the natural-foods section of your supermarket or through online sources.

Nutrition

Nutrition Bonus: Fiber (37% daily value), Vitamin C (25% dv), Iron (20% dv).

2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fruit, 1 very lean meat, 1 fat (mono).

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