Farro is an ideal salad grain, as its wonderfully chewy texture and mildly nutty flavor hold up beautifully in cold or room temperature dishes. Here’s a selection of tasty, hearty farro salads to enjoy all year round.
A bit about farro: Farro is an ancient grain, a form of wheat that’s renowned for its nutty, earthy flavor, and satisfying chewy texture. You’ll find it in well-stocked supermarkets; it’s often shelved in the Italian foods section, as it’s a beloved ingredient in that region’s cuisine.
Cooking the grain for salads: Farro usually comes packaged (as opposed to in bulk). Follow package directions for cooking, since there are different varieties, like whole, pearl, semi-pearled, and quick-cooking. If you end up with a little less or a little more than you need for a particular recipe once it’s cooked, no worries — the salad will still be good!
Learn a lot more this versatile grain in this site’s Guide to Farro — with Tips, Recipes, and Ideas. Let’s get started on the salads! Thanks to the talented bloggers who participated in this roundup, with permission to use their photos and link to their recipes.
Farro Tabbouleh Salad: There’s no end to small tweaks and variations for making this classic Middle Eastern recipe, as this farro variation demonstrates.
Farro Salad with Apples and Pecans: From Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen, a salad that’s full of the flavors of fall. It’s a great side dish, but it can also be can enjoyed as a main dish for lunch or a light dinner, too.
Asparagus and Arugula Farro Salad: Another from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen, a salad combining hearty grains and light spring greens. It’s is an excellent side dish, but it’s also substantial enough to be a meal on its own.
Roast Vegetable Salad with Farro: From Healthy Midwestern Girl, this colorful roasted veggies salad with farro is an entertaining superstar. Since it’s best served at room temperature, sitting out on a buffet or even outdoors at a picnic or cookout doesn’t faze it much. And it’s supremely forgiving if you have to haul it to a party.
Black Bean and Farro Salad with Cumin-Lime Vinaigrette: From Simple Bites, this recipe comes together in the time it takes to cook the farro, and it will probably disappear just as quickly!
Summer Farro Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette: From Clean Green Simple, a summer farro salad recipe features chewy farro tossed with sweet blueberries and crunchy seasonal veggies. Top it off with the tangy and light lemon dressing for an easy vegan meal. Vegan feta (like Violife) is suggested in this recipe’s notes to make it completely plant-based.
Heirloom Tomato & Avocado Farro Salad with Mint-Lime Dressing: From The Roasted Root, a light, simple salad with a lively herb and citrus dressing that’s magically zesty!
Farro and Artichoke Salad with Olives and Dried Tomatoes: This farro and artichoke salad is a fantastic showcase for a versatile grain. It’s definitely an impressive salad course to serve to guests or for a special weekend meal.
Farro, Kale, and Kohlrabi Salad with Dijon-Garlic Vinaigrette: From Livity Gardens, this salad is a meal in itself. You have all the nutrients needed here, and more. It is satisfying and hearty with the big pieces of toasted cashews, and the kohlrabi gives it a wonderful bite that goes beyond a simple salad.
Recipe-free ideas for using farro in salads
Swap in cooked farro for the more usual quinoa or rice in composed Buddha bowls. See some great ideas in Beautiful Buddha Bowls You Can Make Without a Recipe.
Toss a little cooked farro into ordinary salad for extra flavor and protein.
See more of this site’s bountiful recipe roundups.
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