Lentil Salad

I have to say that lentils are one of my favorite type of beans. It is full of flavor, high in iron, high in fiber, easy to cook and very in-expensive.  I make some kind of lentil dish at least once a week and this salad is one of the more popular one in summer time. It has color, texture and flavor.1       pound whole lentil4      scallions, chopped1       cup diced celery1       red bell pepper, diced1       cup chopped Italian parsley1/2   teaspoon red pepper flakeszest of one lemon3/4   cup lemon juice1/2   cup olive oil1/2   cup crumbled feta cheese, optional-Place all the vegetables in salad bowl and toss gently.-Whisk the lemon juice with the lemon zest, pepper flakes and olive oil. Set aside.-Place the lentil in pot, cover with water, salt lightly and bring to a boil.  Boil for 10 minutes or until the lentil are cooked but not much or over cooked.  Remove from the heat, drain and place over the vegetables.-Pour the dressing over the hot lentil and toss until well coated.-Spoon the salad into shallow serving platter, sprinkle with the feta cheese and serve.