Lentil and Buckwheat Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup roasted buckwheat groats uncooked
• 3  carrots chopped
• 2 stalks celery chopped
• 1 cup green lentils rinsed drained
• 1  eggs 
• 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin 
• 1 teaspoon thyme leaves fresh chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 0.1 teaspoon ground cardamom 
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin 
• 0.5 teaspoon ground pepper black
• 1 teaspoon lemon thyme fresh chopped
• 1 teaspoon marjoram leaves fresh chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
• 2 medium onions chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon pepper flakes red crushed
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 2 tablespoons seasoning blend salt-free
• 4 cups vegetable broth 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• whisk
• pot

Directions

1. Bring broth to a boil in a large pot over high heat. Stir in lentils, reduce heat to low and simmer until lentils are tender but firm, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Drain, but reserve liquid.
3. Transfer lentils to a large bowl.
4. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Cook onions until they are soft and translucent about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add celery, carrots, and garlic and continue cooking until carrots are just tender, about 10 minutes. Stir vegetables into lentils.
6. Mix in the seasoning blend, marjoram, thyme, lemon thyme, cumin, crushed red pepper, and cardamom. Set aside.
7. Whisk egg in a bowl; add the buckwheat and stir until well coated with egg.
8. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
9. Add buckwheat and egg mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, until buckwheat has absorbed the egg and appears dry, about 10 minutes. Stir in 2 cups of the reserved lentil liquid and bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low and simmer until liquid is absorbed and buckwheat is soft but maintains its shape and texture, 15 to 25 minutes.
10. Mix buckwheat into lentil mixture. Season with salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and vinegar. Stir and adjust seasonings.
11. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.