Description
A bright and hearty salad made with nutty farro, roasted zucchini, chopped herbs, crunchy walnuts, and sweet dried cranberries—all tied together with a zippy lemon vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Salad
- 1 cup farro
- 1 lb zucchini, sliced into 1/4" rounds
- Olive oil, for roasting
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
For the Lemon Dressing
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- 1 tsp honey or pure maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Cook the Farro
- Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add a generous pinch of salt. Rinse the farro under cold water using a fine mesh sieve, then add it to the boiling water.
- Cook uncovered for 20–30 minutes, or until the grains are tender but still have some chew. Drain, then spread the farro on a sheet pan to steam-dry and cool.
Roast the Zucchini
- Preheat your oven to 450°F (232°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment. Arrange zucchini slices in a single layer. Drizzle or spray with olive oil, toss to coat, and season with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 20–25 minutes until golden and caramelized. Roast in batches if needed.
Make the Lemon Dressing
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon zest, juice, garlic, honey (or maple), salt, and pepper.
- While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing emulsifies.
Assemble the Salad
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked farro, roasted zucchini, chopped parsley and basil, walnuts, and cranberries.
- Pour the lemon dressing over the top and toss gently to coat.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad, Side Dish
- Method: Roasting, Boiling, Tossing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean-Inspired