Farro Salad With Fennel Oranges (Print Version)

Wholesome Mediterranean grain bowl with nutty farro, crisp fennel, and fresh citrus

# What You'll Need:

→ Grain

01 - 1 cup uncooked whole grain farro
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

→ Produce

04 - 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced (reserve fronds for garnish)
05 - 2 large oranges, peeled and segmented
06 - 2 cups arugula or baby spinach
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

→ Nuts

08 - 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

→ Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
11 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse the farro under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine farro, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until farro is tender but still chewy. Drain any excess water and let cool.
02 - While the farro cooks, toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooled farro, sliced fennel, orange segments, arugula (or spinach), and parsley.
04 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
05 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
06 - Add toasted almonds and toss lightly. Garnish with reserved fennel fronds. Serve immediately or chilled.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The farro gives it this incredible chewy satisfaction that makes a salad actually feel like a real meal
  • You can prep everything ahead and the flavors somehow get better after a few hours in the fridge
02 -
  • Letting the farro cool completely before mixing with the greens prevents your arugula from turning into a sad wilted mess
  • The almonds will lose their crunch if they sit in dressed salad too long, so add them right before serving
03 -
  • Supreme your oranges by cutting between the membranes to get perfect segments without any bitter pith
  • A microplane makes quick work of zesting some orange peel into the dressing for extra citrus depth
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