Warm Lentil Salad with Braised Greens (and Sunny Side Up Egg)

Warm Lentil Salad with Braised Greens is an attractive dish (adapted from a recent recipe on an episode of Emeril Green). It's colorful with it's array of vegetables. It has great texture (as long as you don't overcook it). And the flavor is incredible, really. I have a feeling that many people think of a dish like this as bleh. Sometimes, dishes like this are bleh. But not this one, folks! It is bursting with flavors, and I, personally, think that I improved those flavors with my not-so-secret ingredient that I'm going to share with you.

The cooking and braising liquid was all stock, but I zapped it with some sweet and extremely flavorful apple cider. Then, it gets a zammo of fresh lemon juice! And a pow from the red pepper flakes! Loads of awesome flavors.

I know I will make this dish from time to time, and that doesn't happen too often in this house!

During the past few days I've found great little variations with it too.
Variations on this Warm Lentil Salad:

* with or without the Swiss chard
* chopped egg white added in
* Parmesan added in
* topped with a delicious egg, sunny side up

It can be vegetarian or not, vegan or not. It lends itself to your personal tastes.