Mind-Blowing, Three-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Lentil Salad
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Writing click-bait titles is not something I plan on getting into, BUT: Friends, just this once, can you forgive me? I really am blown away by this salad. I first tasted it last Friday afternoon at an end-of-school-year party, and I have made it every other day since.
Are you ready for the recipe? Visit your local Trader Joe’s, and pick up: 1 tub of bruschetta sauce, 1 tub of crumbled feta, and 1 box of cooked lentils. Combine as you wish. Toss. Taste. Adjust to taste with more feta or bruschetta sauce or both.
The post should end here with a, “Bye! Have a nice summer!” but believe it or not, you may run into some roadblocks: The first problem you may encounter is not being able to find the cooked lentils. My Trader Joe’s has been out of the lentils for weeks, but I found a nice alternative at the Niskayuna Co-op: Melissa’s Produce steamed lentils. You, of course, could cook the lentils yourself, which is not difficult and which is more cost effective, but hey, should we try and live a little this summer? It’s hard, I know.
The second problem you may encounter is not being able to find the bruschetta sauce, though this is unlikely—most Trader Joe’s get daily deliveries, bruschetta sauce included.
The third problem you may encounter is that you don’t have a Trader Joe’s nearby. This problem is a little trickier to solve as it will require creativity on your part or a follow-up blog post on mine when the tomatoes finally arrive. Stay tuned.
Friends, as you know, I am the first to tell you to cook beans from scratch, to make bread, to make stock, to whisk up a vinaigrette, to make harissa, and shkug and anything else that just plain tastes better made at home. Cooking never feels like a chore for me, and I typically shy from “recipes” like this because often they taste somewhat artificial or too sweet or too salty, etc.
But this lentil salad is really, really good. One bite of it at the party had me pulling guests aside asking: Did you make the lentil salad? No? Do you know who did? When I learned it was Gail, whose husband manages the Albany Trader Joe’s, it all made sense.
A from-scratch bruschetta sauce and home-cooked lentils would not make this salad impossibly complicated, but the point here is that isn’t it nice to know, when you’re in a pinch (or not), you can pick up three products, throw them together, and call your dinner side dish or potluck contribution or lunch-for-the-week done?
Friends, have you made this salad? I made it on Instagram stories yesterday and was shocked to learn people have been making this one for years! Do you know it? Do you love it? Do you know any other Trader Joe’s hacks?
PS: Homemade Bruschetta Sauce Recipe (Trader Joe’s Copycat Recipe)
PPS: Addictive Black Lentils with Spinach and Labneh
Here’s a play-by-play … drumroll please … let’s make the simplest recipe to date in Alexandra’s Kitchen history. Gather your ingredients: feta, cooked lentils, bruschetta sauce.
Open the containers …
and dump into a bowl (or measure: 1.5 cups cooked lentils, 1.5 cups bruschetta sauce, .5 cups feta).
Ta-da!!
PrintMind-Blowing, Three-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Lentil Salad
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 3.5 cups
Description
My friend Gail, whose husband manages the Albany Trader Joe’s, brought this salad to a party last week, and it blew me away: most important, it was incredibly delicious; nearly important, it required very little effort: picking up three, ready-made products and combining them.
If you cannot find Trader Joe’s cooked lentils, look for the Melissa’s Produce cooked lentils in your local grocery store. Or boil them from scratch as instructed below.
This salad keeps very well in the fridge, and I like eating it cold straight from the fridge, but if you are serving it to company, you may want to bring it to room temperature before serving because the olive oil in the bruschetta sauce congeals a bit in the fridge.
Ingredients
For the Trader Joe’s version:
- 1 1/2 cups cooked lentils, see notes
- 1 1/2 cups Trader Joe’s bruschetta sauce
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta
For the from-scratch version:
- 1/2 cup dried black lentils or French green lentils
- kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups bruschetta sauce
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta or more to taste
Instructions
To make the Trader Joe’s version: Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Toss. Taste. Adjust to taste with more feta or bruschetta sauce. Serve immediately or stash in the fridge.
To make the from-scratch version:
- Place the lentils in a small pot and cover with water by at least an inch. Add a teaspoon of kosher salt. Bring to a simmer. Simmer till done. Times will vary considerably. My black lentils have been cooking consistently in about 23-25 minutes. If you are using French Green lentils, they’ll likely need a little more time. Taste before draining them. Drain, then let cool completely.
- To make the salad, combine the lentils — you should have about 1.5 cups cooked — the bruschetta sauce, and the feta in a large bowl. Stir gently to combine. Taste. Adjust with salt to taste.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Toss
- Cuisine: American
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
92 Comments on “Mind-Blowing, Three-Ingredient Trader Joe’s Lentil Salad”
Another variation on a *ridiculously* simple 30-second TJ’s salad:
Trader Joe’s precooked lentils
+ Trader Joe’s Almond Butter Turmeric dressing (in the refrigerated produce area)
+ raisins
+ slivered almonds
=literally 30 seconds later, a super tasty meal.
Yay!! Thanks for sharing. We’e going camping tomorrow, and I’m making a Trader Joe’s run today to stock up—will add these ingredients to the list! Thanks xx
I have been making this for years as well and have it in my fridge right now! It’s a great, healthy, easy summer meal/side!! I sampled it at a TJ’s probably 6-7 years ago and have loved it ever since! This latest batch, though, I cooked the lentils myself b/c my TJ’s has also been out of the steamed lentils for weeks! Bummer.
I can’t believe I am only just learning about it!! It’s such a good one.
Just got back from TJs….no precooked lentils in our store either. Cooking little French lentils now. Feta and sauce was in abundant supply. Can’t wait to eat!
Yay!! Hope you loved it 🙂 🙂 🙂
OMG….so good. I cooked one cup lentils in chicken stock….dumped the whole container of sauce and cheese in and mixed it up. Had 1/2 a lemon..so juiced that over the salad. I ate it for breakfast unti it was gone…it’s THAT good!
It’s kind of famous, posted on trader joe’s website under recipes. I can’t have dairy so i add in some olives or capers to replace the salty feta and it’s fantastic! I like a big scoop over some salad greens.
Another crazy easy favorite:
Frozen cooked quinoa (defrosted) +
Cowboy caviar salsa+
Black beans +
Cherry tomatoes = stupid easy delicious lunch
Cannot wait to try this one!! Planning on bringing only TJ’s salads camping this weekend 🙂 🙂 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing. Great to hear from you xx
Made it today and it’s a big hit here! Heated it slightly to warm and served an over easy egg on it. Thanks!
YUM!! Sounds delish.
Here’s another 3-ingredient recipe from a Trader Joe’s sampling. I would never have thought to put these ingredients together, but the combination is unexpected, delicious, and of course utterly simple. In whatever proportions seem right, just combine —
Shaved raw fennel
Orange champagne vinegar (not sure the exact TJ name)
Trail mix
Maureen..are you referring to Trader Joe’s Trail Mix with Nuts and Seeds?
Sounds so good Maureen!! Heading to TJ’s today.
Yep that salad is a winner and I make it often.Throw some fresh chopped basil and drizzle the atJ’s balsamic glaze on it and it’s even better!
Nice!!
Great recipe! You should link up to Good Food Fridays!
Misrii
If you’re willing to jump from three ingredients all the (a)way to four, use TJ’s Organic Corn Chip Dippers to scoop it up. Addictive.
Yumyumyum!!
I love this. We still have a massive bag of lentils from Costco…I’m always searching for new ways to use them!
Any recommendations for the bruschetta sauce? We do not have a trader joes and I prefer to make things from scratch.
I really love this post shared by you, I will appreciate if you can share some recipes in future.Thank You!.
TJ has been out of the lentils all summer. Where do you buy the Melissa’s brand you mentioned?
I buy them at my little local co-op: The Niskayuna Co-op. Melissa’s is a pretty big brand, however, so I would imagine your local super market would carry them. Call ahead to be sure. They are typically in the produce or refrigerated section. Also, my TJ’s has the lentils back in stock — give yours a call!
In a pinch, can you use rinsed, canned lentils.
I’m sure! Have you used them in the past with success? If you like them, go for it! I’ve never used them, so I can’t say for sure, but I can’t see why they wouldn’t.
Everyone loves this easy favorite
I need help! I have green lentils or red – guessing the lentils from TJ are green? The box doesn’t say?
They’re green!
Please give those of us without a TJs, a recipe for the bruschetta sauce.
Thanks
I’ll try Karen!!
Here is a great way to make this salad even better: replace the feta with Trader Joe’s olive tapenade. Fabulous and non-dairy!
Ohhhh love it! Thanks for sharing Carolyn.
Do you detain out the oil/liquid from the TJ bruschetta? Going to make this tonight and not sure about the consistency. Thx
Should read *drain*
I don’t! Hope I’m getting to you in time.
Working at Trader’s we are seeing how so many of our delish dishes are spreading over the country. This Mind-Blowing dish has made it’s mark for over 10 years. It is a sup(p)er loved recipe. A couple of modifications or additions which we do from time to time is add a few pomegranate ariels/seeds or chopped cilantro. Serve with crispy pita chips. The steamed lentils can be found at Trader’s as well. One stop shopping.
LOVE this recipe! I serve it as an appetizer with Trader Joe’s Pita Bite Crackers. Amazing!!!
Samples it at trader’s joe and I’ve been doing this on hevay rotation since. Adding chopped persian cucumbers gives it a fantastic crunch too!
This is a quick easy GREAT TASTING dish! Thank you for sharing!
So happy to hear this Kamryn 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hello my favorite food person!
I have had such great success with this easy recipe in the past and thank you for that.
I am now an hour away from TJ’s and have a gathering to attend with no time to collect TJ’s great products. Also, my grocery store is somewhat limited but I do have lentils in the pantry! Do you have any advice for a variation of this salad? Or maybe a similar recipe with very accessible items? (Instant yeast isn’t even available here!)
Thank you for any advice you can provide!
Hello my favorite PERSON 🙂 🙂 🙂
Ok, so you can definitely cook the lentils: just boil them as you would pasta in salted water until they are done — times will vary depending on the lentils you have on hand.
Can you find feta? Fingers crossed you can, otherwise, you can use other cheeses here… use what you like.
I think for the bruschetta sauce, I would just make a tomato salsa (you could use this one as a guide), and maybe give it a gentle pulse in a food processor or blender — you don’t want it to be completely smooth, but it shouldn’t be super chunky like a salsa.
Toss the salsa with the lentils and feta. You might need to add a little olive oil and maybe some white balsamic or lemon juice.
MISS YOU XOXO
I am really late to this recipe party! I know it as a dip with Doritos and it is really addictive! Who would have thought this combination (crazy really) would taste so good?
I am only sorry I haven’t known about it…..10 yrs ago!
I felt the same way 😍😍😍😍
How long would this be good for in your fridge?
Hi Candace! I would say at least 5 days or so.
No! Please don’t share this amazing recipe that I bring to every party. It’s the best and I prefer to keep the leftover for myself!!
😂😂😂😂😂😂
This recipe was linked in Deb from Smitten Kitchens’s stories yesterday, and now again in your newsletter today! I don’t have a TJ’s near me as I am in NB, Canada but I will definitely be putting this together as clearly the universe is telling me something 😉
Oh Amanda, I think you’d really love it 🙂 🙂 🙂 I imagine there is a homemade TJ’s bruschetta sauce recipe out there, and if there isn’t, I will try to get on it ASAP.
Can I use dry lentils and cook them myself?
Yes!
I love this salad but enjoy spice. I added a tbsp of Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce and it was perfect. Gave it even more depth of flavor and heat.
Great to hear, Veronika! I have been meaning to try the TJ’s zhoug … I’ve heard great things!