Lentil Salad (Armenian Mshosh)

armenian-mshosh Mshosh is a simple Armenian lentil salad made with dried apricots and walnuts. This budget-friendly recipe is easy to make, flavourful and very filling. The legend has it that Mshosh is one of the oldest Armenian recipes. It's usually prepared during Lent and is more popular among Western Armenians.

1 cup dried lentils (green, brown or red)
kosher or sea salt
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
½ cup walnuts, chopped
15-17 unsweetened dried apricots, chopped (makes about ½ cup chopped)

To Serve:
handful parsley, chopped
black pepper, freshly ground

Rinse the lentils. Place them into a pot and add water. (If using green lentils, add 3 cups of water, otherwise use the amount of water listed on the packaging.) Cook according to the pkg instructions. Season with kosher or sea salt to taste.

While the lentils are cooking, heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden (about 5 minutes).

Add the chopped walnuts and chopped apricots to the onions. Stir, making sure all pieces are covered in oil and cook for about 2-3 minutes, until the apricots start to caramelize and the mixture becomes fragrant. Turn off the heat and set aside until the lentils finish cooking.

When the lentils are done, take them off of the heat. (There should be little to no water remaining.)

Transfer the onion and apricot mixture to the pot with the lentils. Stir everything together, cover and let stand, off of the heat, for about 5 minutes to allow the flavours to blend.

Garnish with black pepper and parsley before serving.

Makes 4 servings.

How to Serve Mshosh:

Mshosh is a very versatile dish. Although it's made with few ingredients, you can serve it in five different ways:

As a main dish - Mshosh makes a very filling main dish because it's high in protein and fiber.
As a side dish - Mshosh is a vegan main dish usually served during Lent but it also makes a delicious side dish for meat, poultry, and fish.
As a salad - Mshosh can also be served as a cold or warm lentil salad and makes a great addition to veggie and grain bowls.
As a spread -You can make a smooth and delicious spread out of Mshosh. Just put it into a blender or food processor and pulse a few times. The spread tastes great as a snack and can be served as an appetizer over crostini. You can also add it to wraps and sandwiches.
As a soup - Mshosh can also be made into a soup. Just add some vegetable broth to it until you reach the desired consistency. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes.