Farro Fennel Orange Almond Salad (Printable)

Nutty farro mingles with crisp fennel, sweet oranges, and toasted almonds in a bright citrus dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ 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 with fronds reserved 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

# How To Make It:

01 - Rinse farro under cold water. Combine farro, water, and kosher salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 25-30 minutes until tender yet chewy. Drain excess water and allow to cool completely.
02 - While farro cooks, heat sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently until golden and fragrant. Transfer to a plate to cool.
03 - Combine cooled farro, sliced fennel, orange segments, arugula or spinach, and parsley in a large mixing bowl.
04 - Whisk together olive oil, orange juice, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or jar until emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Add toasted almonds and toss lightly to distribute. Garnish with reserved fennel fronds. Serve immediately or chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like something you'd order at a nice restaurant, but it's genuinely easier to make at home.
  • The contrast of chewy farro, crisp fennel, and juicy orange keeps every bite interesting.
  • You can prep it ahead and the flavors actually get better as they mingle together.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad too far ahead if you're using delicate greens—they'll wilt and lose their snap, so wait until the last possible moment to toss it all together.
  • The farro actually tastes better the next day as the dressing soaks in, so this is a genuinely great make-ahead salad for meal prep or bringing to someone's house.
03 -
  • Make the dressing in a jar and shake it instead of whisking—it's faster, easier to taste, and you can store the leftover dressing for the next few days.
  • Buy your oranges a day or two before you need them so they'll be at peak juiciness and easier to segment cleanly.
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