Farro Salad Bowl with Fennel, Oranges & Almonds (Printer-friendly)

Hearty farro tossed with fresh fennel, oranges, and almonds in a light citrus dressing for a satisfying Mediterranean-inspired meal.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains

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

→ Vegetables & Fruit

04 - 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced with fronds reserved for garnish
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 Steps:

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 sliced 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, vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine cooled farro with fennel, orange segments, red onion, and salad greens. Drizzle vinaigrette over the mixture and toss gently to combine.
05 - Sprinkle toasted almonds and reserved fennel fronds over the salad. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the rare salad that works as a complete lunch and tastes even better the next day when the flavors have gotten to know each other.
  • Toasting your own almonds means your kitchen smells incredible and you've already won half the battle before anything hits the bowl.
  • You can make this on a random Tuesday with winter pantry staples and somehow feel like you've traveled somewhere warm.
02 -
  • Don't skip the rinsing step with farro or you'll end up with that chalky, starchy coating that never quite goes away no matter how much you toss it.
  • The salad is best served immediately because even though it tastes good the next day, the fennel softens and the greens wilt—sometimes immediate gratification is the right call.
03 -
  • Make the vinaigrette in the morning and let it sit at room temperature so the flavors actually talk to each other instead of just existing separately.
  • If your oranges are particularly acidic, back off the vinegar slightly—you're looking for brightness, not a pucker.
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