Herbed Grain & Lentil Salad with Cumin Yoghurt and Pomegranate

A herbed grain and lentil salad with freekeh or bulghur wheat, fresh herbs, currants, capers and honey, cumin yoghurt. Nourishing, make-ahead, and well suited to both entertaining and lunch prep.
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This is one of those salads people always come back for. Adapted from the Hellenic Republic’s Cypriot grain salad, it’s built around layered textures and bold, balanced flavours that deepen as it sits.

The grains and lentils give it substance, the herbs keep it fresh, and the currants and capers add little bursts of sweetness and salinity. Finished with cumin yoghurt, honey and pomegranate, it’s generous without being heavy — the kind of salad that quietly anchors a table and improves with time.

Introduction

What I love most about this salad is how complete it feels. Grains and lentils for substance, plenty of fresh herbs and greens, sweet currants, salty capers, and a creamy cumin yoghurt that brings everything together. It’s nourishing without feeling heavy, and vibrant without being fussy.

Because the grains absorb so much flavour, seasoning really matters here. Be generous, keep tasting, and don’t be shy — you should clearly taste the vinegar and lemon, which give the salad its punch. That brightness is what balances the sweetness of the currants, the sharpness of the onion and capers, and the richness of the yoghurt.

I’ve deliberately upped the herbs and added spinach for extra freshness and colour, but feel free to leave it out if you prefer. The final scatter of pomegranate seeds adds little bursts of sweetness and acidity that lift the whole dish.

Taste, adjust, and trust your palate — this salad rewards attention.

Herbed Grain & Lentil Salad with Cumin Yoghurt and Pomegranate

45 mins

Cook Mode: OFF

Ingredients

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Servings: 10

Salad

  • 1 cup freekeh or bulghur wheat, washed and drained
  • 1 cup Puy Lentils, washed and drained
  • .25 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
  • .25 cup sunflower seeds, toasted
  • .25 cup slivered almonds or pine nuts, toasted
  • .25 cup baby capers, rinsed and drained
  • .75 cup currants
  • 1 small red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup fresh coriander, chopped
  • .5 cup fresh mint, chopped
  • .5 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped
  • 120 g baby spinach, chopped (optional)

Dressing

  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 lemon, juice only
  • .33 cup extra virgin olive oil

To serve

  • 1.5 cup thick Greek natural yoghurt
  • 1.5 tsp cumin seeds, toasted and ground
  • 1 tbsp honey, plus extra to drizzle
  • .50 cup pomegranate seeds

Directions

For the salad

  1. Preheat the oven to 180° fan bake. Spread the pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and slivered almonds (or pine nuts) on a lined tray and bake for 5 minutes, until lightly golden (set a timer!). Set aside to cool.
  2. Cook the freekeh or bulghur wheat and the lentils according to packet instructions, until just tender and still holding their shape.
  3. Drain well and allow both to cool completely.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the cooled grains and lentils with the red onion, capers, currants, toasted nuts and seeds and spinach.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and a good pinch of flaky sea salt and cracked black pepper.
  6. Pour over the salad and toss gently to coat.

 

For the yoghurt topping

  1. In a small bowl, combine the yoghurt, toasted ground cumin, and honey. Stir until smooth and well blended.

 

To serve

  1. Just before serving, fold through the coriander, flat leaf parsley and mint, reserving a small handful for garnish. Taste and adjust seasoning to taste.
  2. Transfer the salad to a large serving platter. Spoon over the cumin-honey yoghurt, drizzle with a little extra honey and olive oil if you like, and scatter with pomegranate seeds and the reserved herbs.

Tips

Season generously. Grains and lentils absorb a lot of flavour, so keep tasting and adjust with salt, lemon, or vinegar until it tastes lively.

Be generous with herbs. They’re essential here, adding freshness and balance to the grains.

Perfect for lunch prep
Keeps well for 3–4 days in the fridge. Store the yoghurt separately if packing for lunches.

Equipment

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Kia ora, and welcome to Māia.

I believe food should be nourishing, joyful, and shared. Māia is about giving you confidence in the kitchen and making the everyday a little more delicious. I’m Colleen, and I’m so glad you’re here

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Tips

Season generously. Grains and lentils absorb a lot of flavour, so keep tasting and adjust with salt, lemon, or vinegar until it tastes lively.

Be generous with herbs. They’re essential here, adding freshness and balance to the grains.

Perfect for lunch prep
Keeps well for 3–4 days in the fridge. Store the yoghurt separately if packing for lunches.

Equipment