This post is in partnership with California Walnuts in celebration of plant-forward eating. All opinions are my own. The answer to a delicious plant-forward dinner may already be in your pantry! Toss together a wholesome grain like farro or wild rice, fresh veggies, herbs, and a big handful of delicious walnuts with a few tablespoons of my homemade lemony Greek salad dressing for the perfect supper salad. You’ll love how versatile this Mediterranean farro salad recipe with arugula and walnuts as a satisfying weeknight meal, or paired with things like falafel, grilled chicken, baked cod, salmon kabobs, or even chicken meatballs. And it’s even better for your lunch the next day.
What I love about this farro salad
Not only does this salad taste amazing–even a bit fancy–but it is also the perfect example of a plant-forward meal that uses simple and nutritious Mediterranean staples. Aside from peppery arugula, and a good mix of fresh veggies, herbs, and sweet cherry tomatoes, this farro salad is a wholesome meal with two amazing powerhouse ingredients:
FarroWhat is Farro? Farro, pronounced “fah-roh,” is an ancient whole grain wheat that has been a part of the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean pantry for thousands of years. Chewy, nutty, and earthy tasting, farro grains are also a good source of fiber (double the fiber found in quinoa), plant-based protein, iron, and antioxidants. love using farro on its own or as a side to your favorite fish, but it also makes the perfect base for a satisfying salad that will hold up a good 2 to 3 days in the fridge.
WalnutsI am using California walnuts in this cold farro arugula salad, not for a pretty garnish or just for the delicious crunch and flavor, but for even more nutrition. Did you know that one ounce of walnuts is a dynamo of important nutrients for optimum health, including protein (4g), fiber (2g) and magnesium (45mg)? Heart-healthy walnuts are also the only nut significantly high in essential plant-based omega-3 alpha linolenic acid (ALA) -an essential plant-based fatty acid that must come from food, with 2.5 grams per ounce!
How to cook farro?
Farro is very easy to prepare, and soaking is not required but it can speed up the cooking a bit. In this recipe, I used 3 cups of water to 1 cup of farro. You can follow the package instructions, but I have found that an easy way to cook farro that yields great results is by treating it like pasta and cooking it in salted boiling water. Here is how to cook farro:
Rinse the farro well. Put 1 cup of farro in a large sieve and rinse under cold running water Cook in boiling water. Bring 3 cups of water, seasoned with a good pinch of kosher salt, to a boil. Add the rinsed 1 cup of farro. Turn the heat to medium and simmer until the farro is tender and chewy. The farro will take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes to cook, depending on the kind of farro used. Most farro available in the United States is pearled, where the bran has been removed so it cooks faster than whole farro, which has the bran intact, or semi-pearled farro with some of the bran (this is the most common variety used in Italy). Drain the farro well using a fine-mesh strainer. And it helps if you spread the drained farro on a sheet pan and pat dry with a paper towel.
You can cook plain farro and keep in the fridge for a few days to use as needed. If properly stored, cooked plain farro will keep in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
How to make farro salad
Once you’ve cooked your farro, which you can do ahead of time, this farro arugula salad is as quick as 1, 2, 3:
Make the quick lemony Greek dressing. Here, you will combine ¼ cup fresh lemon juice with 1 to 2 teaspoons of dry oregano, minced garlic clove, and a good dash of kosher salt and black pepper. While whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil. (You may not use all the dressing for this salad, but you can store it in the fridge for other uses).
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked farro, walnuts, tomatoes, veggies, herbs. Pour the dressing all over the salad and toss well to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add feta cheese to your liking, or omit the feta for a vegan farro salad.
A couple of tips
For best results, allow the farro salad to sit for a few minutes before serving so that the flavors will meld. It also helps to mix the salad while the cooked farro is still slightly warm so it will soak a bit of the delicious lemony dressing and fresh herby flavors. Prepare ahead options: You can prepare the Greek salad dressing a few days in advance and refrigerate in a tight-lid glass container. Cook the farro 1 to 2 days ahead of time and save it in the fridge until you are ready to make the salad (warm it up a bit before using).
Related recipes you may like
Farro Risotto: Farro Recipe with Mushrooms and PeasSimple Lemony Arugula Salad with AvocadoEasy Stuffed Chicken Breast with Spinach, Ricotta and WalnutsWalnut Spinach Greek Yogurt Dip RecipeOrange Beet Salad Recipe with Arugula and Feta
Hungry for more? Browse our Salad recipes collection, or Top Mediterranean diet recipes. Browse all Mediterranean recipes. Don’t forget to visit our online shop!
