Grilling Cheese With Sweet Peppers and Black Lentils

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• ¾ cup black beluga lentils
• 3 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 5 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 8 oz. grilling cheese (such as bread, Halloumi, or paneer), torn into 2" pieces
• 1 lb. sweet mini peppers, ribs and seeds removed, halved lengthwise, cut into thirds if large
• ½ tsp. dried oregano
• ¼ cup (packed) basil leaves, torn if large
• Flaky sea salt

Directions

1. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add lentils and cook until just tender but not falling apart (they should hold their shape), about 20 minutes. Drain well.
2. Meanwhile, whisk vinegar, honey, and 3 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl to combine; season with kosher salt and pepper. Set dressing aside.
3. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add cheese and cook, turning occasionally, until heated through and brown and crispy on all sides, about 5 minutes total. (Some varieties of paneer are made without salt; if using one of these, season your pieces of cheese while cooking.) Transfer to a plate.
4. Add remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to same pan, then add sweet peppers and oregano. Season with kosher salt and black pepper and cook over medium-high, stirring and pressing down occasionally on sweet peppers with a wooden spoon so they make good contact with the pan, until softened and blistered in spots, 20–25 minutes. Remove from heat.
5. Add warm lentils and reserved dressing to pan and toss to combine, then toss in cheese.
6. Transfer sweet pepper mixture to a platter or plates. Top with basil and season with sea salt and more black pepper.