Spanish Brown Lentil Salad

Spanish Brown lentils are available in some specialty stores, but you don't need them for this recipe. They just sound tastier. Use any color lentil but red, which get mushy. This is the only simple lentil salad recipe that I actually want to eat, not just take to the pot luck fund raiser. (Updated 6/4/20)

Ingredients:
One cup of brown or green lentils (You can buy Spanish Pardina brown lentils direct from the farm, Look up Palouse Brand)
2 1/2 cups water
Half a small red onion chopped
One small red bell pepper chopped
One cucumber, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, de-seeded with a spoon, the halves cut into 1/2"strips, then chopped 1/4" long.
2 cups parsley leaves.
Feta cheese for garnish
Romaine lettuce or other green as bed for serving optional

Directions:
Cook the lentils in the 2 1/2 cups water or stock with  1/2 teaspoon salt for 30-35 minutes, then put in a colander, rinse with cold water and let sit until you are ready.
Make the dressing: Combine 5 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, one clove of garlic finely minced or put through a press, 1 full teaspoon Dijon mustard, and a little more than a 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and sugar, and whisk to combine.
When you are all set, combine the lentils, the vegetables and the dressing, serve and garnish with some feta cheese.
A bed of greens for serving is a nice addition, Romaine, Iceberg, or baby spinach.