Farro Salad Fennel Oranges Almonds (Print Version)

Nutty farro meets crisp fennel and juicy oranges in this vibrant Mediterranean bowl

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup farro
02 - 3 cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables & Fruit

04 - 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced
05 - 2 large oranges, peeled and segmented
06 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 2 cups mixed salad greens

→ Nuts & Seeds

08 - ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted

→ Vinaigrette

09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
11 - 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - ½ teaspoon honey
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make:

01 - Rinse farro under cold water. Combine farro, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes until tender but chewy. Drain and let cool slightly.
02 - Toast almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large salad bowl, toss the cooled farro with fennel, orange segments, red onion, and salad greens. Drizzle vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to combine.
05 - Sprinkle toasted almonds and reserved fennel fronds on top. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually keeps you satisfied because farro has this chewy substance that makes you feel like you've eaten real food.
  • The combination of crisp fennel, sweet oranges, and toasted almonds creates this texture party that doesn't get boring halfway through.
  • You can throw it together in under an hour and it tastes like you fussed all day.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the farro—the starch can make it gluey if you don't, and you want those individual grains to stay separate and chewy.
  • The fennel fronds aren't garnish; they're the flavor secret, so don't throw them away—they add this fresh, almost anise-like brightness that makes people wonder what makes this salad different.
03 -
  • Drain the farro well and let it cool before adding the vinaigrette so it doesn't get mushy from absorbing too much liquid too fast.
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the greens separate and add them just before serving so they don't wilt from the acidic dressing.
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