[This Warm Farro Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing is a vegetarian side dish that packs as much flavor as it does nutrition. Hearty farro is a whole grain with a fantastic chew factor and when combined with veggies, toasted pine nuts, fresh herbs, and a tangy but creamy lemon dressing, it is heaven on earth!]
I have a serious love affair going on with farro.
I have for years.
Farro, if you’ve never had it, is similar to barley. It’s an ancient grain that is packed with fiber, protein, and nutrients, and it has the most amazing chewy texture to it. I LOVE it.
This Warm Farro Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing is one of my favorite ways to enjoy this hearty grain. It’s easy to make, works as a main or a side, and can hang out in the fridge for several days, making it ideal for weekly meal prep.
Plus, it’s so much more interesting than plain brown rice.
I like to take help from the store and stir in a bag of broccoli slaw, but you really can add in any vegetables that you like. A few handfuls of baby greens, sliced peppers or carrots, or even shredded brussels sprouts would all be great here.
The farro and dressing can be your base – make it yours from there!
I’ll walk you through how I make my version – and I can tell you, this has been on repeat in my house every single week for a couple months now. It’s a staple.
Ingredients You Need for This Warm Farro Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing:
- Farro or barley
- Pine nuts
- Olive oil
- Scallions or shallot
- Garlic
- Bagged broccoli slaw
- Flat-leaf parsley
- Fresh lemon juice
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Za’atar spice mix
- Honey
- Salt and pepper
How to Make This Warm Farro Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing:
Start by Prepping the Farro & Veggies:
- Rinse and drain the farro and then add it to a saucepan with water and salt.
- Bring to a boil, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the farro is tender and the water has been absorbed. Drain off any excess water.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the pine nuts. Shaking the pan frequently and keeping an eye on it (pine nuts can burn quickly), toast the pine nuts until golden and fragrant. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- To the same skillet, add the olive oil and return it to medium heat. Add the scallions (or shallot) and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and broccoli slaw and toss to combine. Cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until all the vegetables are tender.
Make the Creamy Lemon Dressing:
- In a large mixing bowl (where you’ll ultimately make the salad itself), whisk together fresh lemon juice, yogurt, extra-virgin olive oil, za’atar spices, honey, and salt and pepper until a smooth and creamy dressing forms.
Assemble the Farro Salad:
- Add the farro to the bowl with the lemon dressing and toss to combine while it is still warm. Season, to taste, with additional salt and pepper.
- Stir in the broccoli slaw mixture, along with the parsley, and toss to combine until the greens are slightly wilted.
- Stir in the toasted pine nuts and serve while warm.
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- Lemony Kale & Artichoke Farro
- Pomegranate & Farro Salmon Salad
- Farro Risotto with Butternut Squash, Greens, & Truffle Oil
- Farro Grain Bowls with Roasted Fruit & Feta Cheese
I love eating this farro, warmed up, just by itself or maybe with a protein on the side. It can hold up on its own and makes for an incredibly satisfying but delicious meal.
So much texture! So much flavor! I am completely in love.
@yestoyolks ✨ Warm Farro Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing ✨ This has become a staple in our house, and it works perfectly for weekly meal prep! A vegetarian side dish that packs as much flavor as it does nutrition. Hearty farro is an ancient whole grain with a fantastic chew factor and when combined with broccoli slaw, toasted pine nuts, fresh herbs, and a tangy but creamy lemon dressing, it is heaven on freaking earth! So much flavor, so much texture, and I am so in love. FULL RECIPE on yestoyolks.com! #foodtiktok #recipes #cookingvideo #cookingtiktok #recipeideas #recipesforyou #farro #grainbowl #wholegrains #healthycooking #mealprepideas ♬ Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris
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Warm Farro Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Warm Farro Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing is a vegetarian side dish that packs as much flavor as it does nutrition. Hearty farro is a whole grain with a fantastic chew factor and when combined with veggies, toasted pine nuts, fresh herbs, and a tangy but creamy lemon dressing, it is heaven on earth!
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 1/2 cups farro or barley, rinsed well
- 1 cup pine nuts
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 scallions (or 1 small shallot), chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 (12-oz) bag broccoli slaw
- 1 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
For the Dressing:
- Juice of 1 lemon (roughly 2 tablespoons)
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon za’atar spice mix
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
For the Salad:
- Rinse and drain the farro and then add it to a saucepan with 3 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of kosher salt.
- Bring to a boil, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the farro is tender and the water has been absorbed. Drain off any excess water.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the pine nuts. Shaking the pan frequently and keeping an eye on it (pine nuts can burn quickly), toast the pine nuts until golden and fragrant. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- To the same skillet, add the olive oil and return it to medium heat. Add the scallions (or shallot) and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add in the garlic and broccoli slaw and toss to combine. Cook for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until all the vegetables are tender.
For the Dressing:
In the bottom of a large mixing bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the vinaigrette. Season, to taste.
To Assemble:
- Add the farro to the bowl with the lemon dressing and toss to combine while it is still warm. Season, to taste, with additional salt and pepper.
- Stir in the broccoli slaw mixture, along with the parsley, and toss to combine until the greens are slightly wilted.
- Stir in the toasted pine nuts and serve while warm.
Notes
A few handfuls of baby greens, like spinach or arugula, work great in here as well if you want to up the greens quotient. Add them to the farro mixture when you add the broccoli slaw.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: side dishes
Hi There. I'm Molly. I'm a food-obsessed, self-taught cook and I can't wait to share my passion for all things culinary with you. My love for egg yolks is just the tip of the iceberg!
I haven’t used farro before in a salad or anything else, a nice change for a salad for me, so thank you!