Category Archives: Salads

Farro Salad with Avocado Greek Dressing

As I have fallen more in love with healthy whole grains, it is more and more common for me to throw together some type of whole grain cold salad with beans or veggies to accompany grilled chicken or fish for a quick healthy dinner.  The day before I made this Farro Salad I was looking for a reason to use up an avocado that was just a tad too ripe to cut up for my lunch.  Considering the health benefits of avocados, I hated to throw it away so I decided to figure out a way to use it (and to sneak it into something that my kids would eat for dinner).  I came up with this salad dressing to use on a green salad that night and low and behold the whole family liked it!  The next night I made the Farro Salad and dressed it with the Avocado Greek Dressing and we all thought it tasted even better on the Farro than the green salad.  My 7 year old daughter gobbled it up and asked me to make it this summer and take it to the pool for her.  Score!!!!

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Farro Salad with Avacado Greek Dressing (Serves 6)

Ingredients (Farro Salad):

1 cup farro

2 Tbsp olive oil

2-3 garlic cloves, sliced thin

1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup edamame, thawed

1/2 red pepper, chopped

2-4 oz. reduced fat feta cheese, crumbled (to keep it “Clean,” omit cheese)

fresh parsley, chopped

Ingredients (Avacado Greek Dressing):

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 clove garlic

1 avocado (ripe to overripe)

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dijon mustard

1/3 cup water

1 tsp sugar

1 cup olive oil

1 Tbsp fresh parsley

Directions:

For dressing:  In food processor, puree lemon juice, garlic, avocado, vinegar, oregano, mustard, water and sugar until smooth.  Slowly add in olive oil until smooth.  Add parsley and pulse.  Keep in a mason jar up to one week.

For Farro Salad:  Cook farro as directed on package. Place in a large mixing bowl. In small saucepan, heat 2 Tbsp olive oil over high heat.  Add sliced garlic and sautee over medium heat for 30-45 second or until garlic turns slightly brown. Stir oil and garlic into farro.   Add all other ingredients to farro mixture.  Toss with Avocado Greek Dressing and season with salt and pepper to taste.