Farro Salad With Peas Asparagus And Feta Recipe Epicuriouscom

GREEK FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the farro, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover. Simmer until the farro is tender and the grains have split open, about 20 minutes. Drain and rinse with cool water. Put the farro in a mixing bowl.
• Add the tomato, cucumber, onion, bell pepper, olives, and basil. Toss with the oil and lemon juice; season with the salt and pepper. Toss the salad to evenly distribute the ingredients. Put the salad on a nice oval platter, break up the feta with your hands, and scatter the chunks on top. The farro salad can be made a day or two in advance.

FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add green beans and snap peas, and cook for 1 minute. Fish out the beans with a spider, mesh strainer or slotted spoon. Rinse briefly in cool water, then blot on a kitchen towel and set aside.
• Add farro to the pot, and cook until al dente, 15 to 20 minutes, then drain and spread out on a baking sheet or platter to cool.
• As the farro cooks, make the vinaigrette: Put shallots in a small bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, lemon juice and zest, and leave for 5 minutes, then whisk in olive oil.
• Season the farro lightly with salt and pepper. Drizzle with half the vinaigrette, toss and mound.
• Slice the asparagus in very thin, lengthwise ribbons with a thin-bladed knife or mandolin and place in a medium-size bowl. Add cooked green beans, snap peas and thick slices of avocado. Salt lightly, add remaining vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.
• Arrange dressed vegetables over farro, garnish with basil leaves and serve.

ASPARAGUS FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• In 2-quart saucepan, heat 4 cups water to boiling. Stir in farro; return to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces, leaving heads full. In 10-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add asparagus and shallot; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until desired doneness (some like asparagus more tender, while others prefer a little fresh crunch). Remove asparagus from skillet to plate; set aside.
• Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the lemon peel and lemon juice to skillet. Heat over low heat, scraping bottom of skillet with wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. Stir in salt and pepper. Set sauce aside.
• Drain cooked faro in strainer or colander; rinse. In large serving bowl, toss faro with asparagus, pecans and feta cheese. Drizzle sauce over top.