The Most Filling "Salad" Out There

This "salad" is less of a salad in the traditional sense and more like a huge pile of filling things that taste amazing together, with some greens tucked in there somewhere.  Make a big batch because it keeps in the fridge for a couple days.

Grain and Veggie Salad Bowl

Ingredients:

-1 cup green lentils

-1 cup brown rice OR wheatberries

-1 tbsp. olive oil

-1/2 red onion, chopped

-2 garlic cloves, minced

-1 red bell pepper, chopped

-1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

-1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

-3 cups fresh baby spinach

-1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced

-salt and pepper

-1 lemon, zested - 1/2 of it cut into wedges and set the other half aside

-sunflower seeds

-your favorite salad dressing (something lemony works great here)

Method:

Cook lentils and rice/wheatberries according to package directions. Drain well and set aside.

In a big skillet or wok over low-medium heat, heat olive oil and saute the chopped onion and minced garlic for 5 minutes. Then add bell peppers and tomatoes and saute for another 7 or 8 minutes.

Stir in the spinach and saute until tender. The stir in the lentils and rice/wheatberries, squeeze the 1/2 lemon you set aside over the whole thing, and simmer for another 2-3 minutes until everything is warm. Remove from heat and stir in minced parsley.

Sprinkle with sunflower seeds, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve with dressing of choice and a sprinkle of lemon zest and lemon wedges for garnish.