Black Beluga Lentils Salad with Roasted Pumpkin

Sort lentils, rinse with cold water and drain. In a medium pot with a lid, combine the black lentils, salt, and water. Bring to a boil for 2 to 3 minutes then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until just tender but not soft (try it first, it should have a texture), about 25 minutes. Drain into a fine mesh colander and allow to cool to room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 350F. In a roasting pan or baking sheet, toss the cubed of pumpkin together with olive oil, a bit of salt and pepper and the dash of smoked paprika. Roast until tender and slightly caramelized, about 15-20 minutes. Once roasted, allow cooling to room temperature.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the lentils, roasted pumpkin, diced tomatoes, parsley, and garlic. Once combined, drizzle over the walnut oil and the lemon juice into the bowl. Combine well to make sure everything gets dressed. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. This salad is great at room temperature or even warm. You can keep it overnight in a refrigerator and bring back to room temperature to serve.