Farro Salad with Fennel Oranges (Printable)

Hearty farro meets crisp fennel and juicy oranges in this vibrant Mediterranean bowl with toasted almonds and light vinaigrette.

# What You Need:

→ 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

# Directions:

01 - Rinse farro under cold water. Combine farro, water, and ½ teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes until tender yet chewy. Drain and allow to cool slightly.
02 - While farro cooks, 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, vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified.
04 - In a large salad bowl, combine cooled farro with fennel, orange segments, red onion, and mixed greens. Drizzle vinaigrette over salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle toasted almonds and reserved fennel fronds over the salad. Serve immediately while flavors are bright.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes even better the next day when the flavors have gotten cozy with each other, so meal prep actually improves this dish.
  • Farro has a chewy texture that makes you feel like you're eating something real, not just rabbit food.
  • You can throw it together in under an hour and still feel like you cooked something thoughtful.
02 -
  • Don't skip toasting the almonds—the difference between raw and toasted is the difference between a nice salad and one that people actually get excited about.
  • Let the farro cool slightly before tossing it with the vinaigrette, otherwise it'll absorb too much liquid and turn into mush instead of staying chewy and distinct.
03 -
  • Use a mandoline to slice your fennel paper-thin—it makes a huge difference in how delicate and refined the salad tastes.
  • If your oranges are small or not very juicy, squeeze an extra one for the vinaigrette so it stays citrusy and bright.
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