Farro Salad With Fennel and Oranges (Printable)

Nutty farro meets crisp fennel, sweet oranges, and toasted almonds in a zesty citrus dressing. A refreshing Mediterranean dish ready in 50 minutes.

# Components:

→ Grain

01 - 1 cup uncooked whole grain farro
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

→ Produce

04 - 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced (reserve fronds for garnish)
05 - 2 large oranges, peeled and segmented
06 - 2 cups arugula or baby spinach
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

→ Nuts

08 - 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

→ Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed orange juice
11 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# Method:

01 - Rinse the farro under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine farro, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25–30 minutes, or until farro is tender but still chewy. Drain any excess water and let cool.
02 - While the farro cooks, toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Set aside.
03 - In a large bowl, combine cooled farro, sliced fennel, orange segments, arugula (or spinach), and parsley.
04 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
05 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat.
06 - Add toasted almonds and toss lightly. Garnish with reserved fennel fronds. Serve immediately or chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture contrast between chewy farro, crisp fennel, and juicy oranges keeps every bite interesting
  • Its one of those rare salads that actually gets better after sitting in the fridge for a day
  • The dressing strikes that perfect balance between tangy, sweet, and savory without overwhelming the fresh ingredients
02 -
  • Farro brands vary wildly in cooking time—some pearl farro cooks in 15 minutes while whole farro can take 40, so taste as you go
  • The salad needs at least 15 minutes for the flavors to meld after dressing, but it's even better the next day
  • Fennel can be intimidating if you've never cooked with it, but the raw version is much milder than you'd expect
03 -
  • Use a mandoline if you have one for paper-thin fennel slices, but a sharp knife and steady hand work just fine
  • Supreming your oranges—cutting out the individual segments—makes a huge difference in texture and presentation
  • If the dressing tastes too sharp on its own, don't worry—it will balance out once it coats the farro and vegetables
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