This dark, elegant Halloween Blood Orange Lentil Salad is perfect for fall dinner parties! Coming together in minutes, this simple salad has only a handful of ingredients, but makes the perfect spooky appetizer or side. This salad also happens to be completely vegan and plant-based!
I made this Halloween Blood Orange Lentil salad for my October dinner party, and it was so simple, easy, and tasty that I knew I had to share it right away! While this salad isn’t overtly Halloween-y, it’s right on theme with the dark, black lentils, and blood-red blood oranges. It’s definitely a great Halloween salad for adults, but kids who aren’t picky eaters will love it too! It’s really just a handful of ingredients – mixed greens, blood oranges, lentils, pumpkin seeds, and a homemade vinaigrette. That’s it!
October’s dinner party theme was “All Hallow’s Evening”, a spin on the feast day of All Saints’ Day (November 1st), and All Hallow’s Eve (October 31st). Many people do not know that Halloween is partially a derivative of these Catholic holidays. As Catholics, we use this time to remember all of our loved ones who have passed, and the communion of Saints in heaven. The way that most of us here in the US celebrate Halloween nowadays has several historical remnants, from different cultures and time periods. But no matter which way you celebrate, or even if you do not celebrate at all, I hope you enjoy this autumn time and this delicious salad!! Cheers!
For more Halloween recipes, try my Halloween Pasta Salad, this Halloween Hot Chocolate, or this Witch’s Brew Smoothie!
Halloween Blood Orange Lentil Salad
Ingredients
The Salad
- 1 Cup Black Lentils uncooked
- 6 Cups Mixed Greens or Mesclun Lettuce
- 2 Blood Oranges supremed
- 1/3 Cup Roasted, Salted Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds)
Vinaigrette
- 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 1/2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 Tbsp Blood Orange Juice
- 1/2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 Tbsp Honey
- 1/4 Tsp Salt or more, to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
- 1/4 Tsp Paprika
- 1/4 Tsp Dried Parsley
Instructions
- If you can, soak your lentils for an hour before cooking. However, this is not necessary, and you can double-rinse your lentils after cooking.
- Prep your lentils by rinsing them under cold water, and remove any dirt particles you see (if any).
- Fill a large pot with 5-6 cups of water, and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add a pinch of salt (about 1 tsp) and the lentils. Stirring occasionally, cook the lentils until al dente – usually about 15-20 minutes (but will be less if you soak them ahead of time), or according to the directions on your box of lentils. Check often towards the end of the cooking time for doneness.
- When the lentils are done, drain them from the cooking water, then rinse them well with cold water and drain. Set aside.
- Make the vinaigrette by combining all of the vinaigrette ingredients, whisking together until completely combined. Taste, and adjust seasonings to your preference.
- Then, supreme the blood oranges. Cut off about 1/4" of the top and bottom of the orange. Then, carefully with a sharp knife, cut along the rind of the oranges, following its curve around the fruit. Cut off as much of the rind as you can without cutting off too much of the fruit. Repeat around the orange until you've completely cut the rind off. Then, cut out the segments of fruit by carefully cutting near the dividing pith on both sides, freeing the fruit. Do this until you've cut out all of the segments.
- Now, assemble the salad. Place the lettuce in a large serving bowl, then add on the lentils and orange segments. Mix. Top with the salted pepitas. From here, you can either drizzle on as much or as little of the dressing as you'd like, or serve the dressing on the side.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- If desired, you can add some feta for a little extra savoriness and protein.
- You can prep this salad ahead of time by making all of the ingredients separately, then assembling JUST before serving.
Nutrition
Halloween Blood Orange Lentil Salad FAQs
How long does this Halloween salad last?
This salad, when composed, will last about a day in the fridge. However, if you keep the ingredients separate, they will last in the fridge for about 3-4 days. The best practice is to assemble the salad right before serving.
Is this Halloween Salad for adults?
Yes! This is an elegant, festive salad for adults, especially for a Halloween party. Kids who are a bit more adventurous of eaters will enjoy this as well :)
Is this Halloween Salad easy to make?
Yes! The hardest part is supreming the citrus, but I go over how to do that in the recipe. You can also find videos on YouTube and TikTok showing you how to supreme!
Is this a party food for a crowd?
This salad serves about 6 as a side, but you can easily double it for a larger party!
P.S.
For more plant-forward recipes, dinner parties, and New England lifestyle inspiration, be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok! If you make a recipe, please tag me in the photo and use the hashtag #wellandfull so I can see! I love seeing your creations!
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