October 12, 2016

Fall Farro Salad with Butternut Squash

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Filled with tender butternut squash, kale and crunchy walnuts, this fall farro salad is perfect for the season! Healthy, simple and an excellent side dish or main (topped with a protein of choice), it’s dairy free and vegan.

A white bowl filled with Fall Farro Salad and a silver serving spoon.

Let’s talk this fall farro salad!

We have tender butternut squash. Pops of kale. Crunchy walnuts.

And my favorite, perfectly chewy whole grain … farro!

It all gets tossed together with a simple maple dijon dressing … combining into an awesome fall dinner (or lunch or side dish).

And while we are on side dishes, I’m just going to go ahead and throw it out there. I think this would be a most excellent addition to any Thanksgiving spread. Oh yes indeed.

A white bowl filled with Butternut Squash Farro with a white napkin and silver spoon.

Tips & Tricks For This Butternut Squash Farro

  1. I used pre-cut butternut squash while testing this dish. So, if you cut the squash yourself, the prep time will be longer. Alternatively, you can cut it in advance so it is ready to go when needed.
  2. Along those lines, if you are using pre-cut squash and the chunks are smaller than the ¾ inch size listed down below in the recipe, just keep an eye on the squash in the oven. It will take a little less time to roast.
  3. I like to use lacinato kale in this salad, since I find it a touch more tender than regular kale. But any kind will work!
  4. And about the farro. Be sure to read the notes section in the recipe, which contains info about the cook time for this chewy whole grain. But one other point. The cook time for farro can also vary a bit by how old it is (the older it is, the longer it takes). So just keep that in mind as well. Like I mention below, the best way to check for doneness is to taste it.

A small white bowl filled with Butternut Squash Farro and a silver fork.

Additional Farro Recipes You Might Enjoy:

Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.

Filled with tender butternut squash, kale and crunchy walnuts, this fall farro salad is perfect for the season! Healthy, simple and an excellent main or side dish!

Fall Farro Salad with Butternut Squash

Yield: about 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Filled with tender butternut squash, kale and crunchy walnuts, this fall farro salad is perfect for the season! Healthy, simple and an excellent side dish or main (topped with a protein of choice). Dairy free and vegan.

Ingredients

For the salad:

  • 1 cup farro, rinsed
  • 3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 medium red onion, sliced
  • 4 cups cubed butternut squash (about ¾ inch chunks)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups chopped kale (remove the stems first!)
  • ½ cup chopped raw walnuts

For the dressing:

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • pinch of pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400ºF.

For the salad:

  1. Add the farro to a medium saucepan, then pour in the broth. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until tender but still a touch chewy (see notes for approximate cook time*).
  2. Drain off any excess liquid and add to a large bowl.
  3. Meanwhile, add the red onion and butternut squash to a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread in an even layer.
  4. Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until tender and starting to brown.
  5. Add the veggies to the large bowl, along with the kale and walnuts. Toss to combine.

For the dressing:

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing.
  2. Pour into the bowl with the farro and veggies and toss to combine. Taste and season with additional salt / pepper as needed (I usually add a touch more salt). Serve warm!

Notes

*There are several different kinds of farro - whole, semi-pearled and pearled. Whole farro takes the longest to cook and pearled the shortest. I usually use semi-pearled farro, which in general takes about 20 to 30 minutes to cook. But the best way to check farro for doneness is to taste it! As mentioned above, you want it to be tender but still a bit chewy.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 325Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 425mgCarbohydrates: 36gFiber: 8gSugar: 8gProtein: 6g

Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.

© Ashley / Cook Nourish Bliss
Cuisine: American / Category: Side Dish
Dairy Free, Main Dish, Meatless, Recipes (ALL), Salad, Seasonal, Side Dish, Soy Free, Thanksgiving, Vegan, Vegetarian
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