Mediterranean Lentil Salad - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup lentils
4 cups water
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon thyme
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1/3 cup sun-dried tomato, not packed in oil
boiling water
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup red onion, minced
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
Dressing
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
salt & freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Rinse the lentils. In a medium saucepan, bring the lentils, 4 c water, bay leaves, thyme, and garlic to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
While the lentils are simmering, cover the sun-dried tomatoes with boiling water in a heatproof bowl and set aside. Combine the celery, peppers, onions, and parsley in a large bowl. In a separate small (non-metallic) bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients until smooth. When the sun-dried tomatoes have softened, drain them and mince. Add to the chopped vegetables.
Drain the lentils and discard the bay leaves. Let cool, then remove the garlic, mash it, and mix it back into the lentils. Toss the lentils with the vegetables and dressing, and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
Serve immediately, or cover and chill to serve later.