Combine the water, bay leaf and bouillon cube in a small pot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to a low boil and stir in the lentils. Cover and cook until lentils are just tender, about 24 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Brown the butter over low heat in a large sauté pan. Add the lentils, stir until incorporated and transfer to serving platter.

Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the sauté pan over medium heat. Add the salmon, season with salt and pepper, and cook 2 minutes per side. Lay the cooked fillets over the lentils.

Add the tomatoes, basil and garlic to the sauté pan and cook until tomatoes are heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt. Shake pan frequently to prevent garlic from burning. Cover salmon with the tomato-basil mixture and serve immediately.