Summer Farro Salad

Trader Joe's Farro

This salad is the epitome of healthy summer cooking. All of the ingredients (besides the farro) can be added straight from the fridge and served chilled. Farro is an ancient form of wheat that's been popular in Europe for centuries. It's now available at most American supermarkets. Ask for it if you can't find it. Farro usually takes about 20 minutes to cook. (It’s like cooking rice. Read the package instructions for cooking.) If you want to limit your time at the stove, you can use Trader Joe's "Ten Minute Farro," which cooks on the stovetop lightning fast.

The beauty of this salad is its adaptability. I've given options below for adding chickpeas, other fruits, Kalamata olives and/or cucumbers. I've included a dressing recipe that isn't low in WW Points but is nonetheless delicious. Bear in mind that we should all get some healthy fats in our daily meals. You can drizzle a small portion of this dressing on your salad with minimal damage. (I'd count 2 WW Points per Tbsp.) Or you can use any of the Walden Farms Zero-Calorie dressings that you'll find in the salad dressing aisle at large supermarkets. (They're shown below.)

Semi-pearled farro can be found at most supermarkets.

Salad:

2 cups cooked and cooled farro

2 cups greens of your choice (mixed greens, romaine, spinach)

2 large peaches, pitted and sliced (I used nectarines)

1 1/2 cups blueberries

1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes, halved

2 small ears corn, kernels removed, or 1 1/2 cups frozen thawed corn

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil

Optional add-ins: 1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained; strawberries, halved,; Kalamata olives, halved; cucumber, thinly sliced.

Dressing:

1/3 cup olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1 Tbsp. champagne vinegar, or white balsamic vinegar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 small shallot, minced

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

In a large bowl combine the cooled farro, greens, peach slices, blueberries, tomatoes, corn, feta and basil.

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, shallot, salt and pepper. Whisk until well combined.

Drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss until salad is well coated. Serve immediately.

Serves 4

WW Points per serving: 4 without the Salad dressing

Walden Farms Salad Dressings: ZERO WW Points!