Lentil Salad - Alice Waters (oh how i love thee!)

Alice Waters’ “The Art of Simple Food”
Serves 4

• 1 cup lentils
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions or 3 tablespoons finely diced shallot
• 3 tablespoon chopped parsley

1. Sort and rinse lentils. Place them in a large saucepan, cover them with water by 3 inches, and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer, and cook until tender, about 30 minutes. Drain, and reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid.

2. Transfer the lentils to a large bowl, and toss them with vinegar, salt and pepper. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Taste and add more salt and vinegar, if needed.

3. Add olive oil, scallions or shallot, and parsley. Stir to combine. If the lentils seem dry, add some of the reserved cooking liquid.

Variations:
•1/2 diced cucumber
•1 or 2 seeded tomatoes, diced
•Dice 1/4 cup each carrot, celery and onion. Cook until tender in a couple spoonfuls of olive oil. Cool and stir into salad instead of scallions.
•Garnish with 1/2 cup crumbled goat or feta cheese.
•Toast and crush 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, and add to salad. Replace parsley with cilantro.
•Dice 1/4 cup sweet peppers, season with salt, and let stand to soften. Stir in with scallions or shallots.