Farro Salad with Grilled Asparagus
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This bright grilled asparagus salad is the perfect side for a spring cookout. Prep the other ingredients ahead of time, toss the asparagus on the grill, and you'll have a beautiful salad in no time.
Author:
Recipe type: Salad, side dish
Serves: 4 as a side
Ingredients
  • 1 cup uncooked farro (about 2 cups cooked)
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • 1 bunch asparagus, tender parts
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • ½ cup frozen edamame, thawed
  • 2 tablespoons crumbled ricotta salata or feta, optional
  • 2 teaspoons capers
  • 2 radishes, sliced raw or quick pickled*
  • handful of pea shoots or micro greens, chopped
  • ¼ cup chopped pistachios
dressing: (you may have extra)
  • 2 tablespoons Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon pure maple syrup
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
  1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and cook the farro and until tender but not mushy, 15 to 25 minutes, depending on the farro. (They vary, so check the packaging for a more specific time range). Drain and spread on a plate to dry and drizzle with a tiny bit of olive oil to keep it from sticking. Chill until ready to use. The farro can be made ahead.
  2. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, mustard, thyme leaves, maple syrup, salt, several grinds of pepper, and the water. Set aside.
  3. Prep all salad ingredients before grilling the asparagus. Toss the farro with half of the dressing and a pinch of salt and set aside.
  4. Preheat the grill to medium. Drizzle the asparagus and lemon halves lightly with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill for 6 to 8 minutes, or until charred but still bright green, flipping or rolling once. Grill the lemons cut-side down without flipping.
  5. Remove the asparagus and lemons from the grill. Assemble the salad with the dressed farro, the asparagus, edamame, cheese, capers, radishes, pea shoots, and pistachios. Drizzle with more dressing, as desired, and squeeze the grilled lemon over the salad. Season with more salt and pepper, as desired.
Notes
*to quick pickle the radishes, place them in a jar and cover them with a combination of rice vinegar, white wine vinegar, a splash of water, a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar. Shake and chill until ready to use.
Recipe by Love and Lemons at https://www.loveandlemons.com/farro-salad-grilled-asparagus/