Red Pepper Zucchini Farro Salad Recipe
This Red Pepper Zucchini Farro Salad is a vibrant and hearty dish featuring tender farro cooked to al dente perfection, sautéed zucchini and red onions, and sweet roasted red pepper strips. Tossed in a tangy and aromatic dressing made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, and Italian herbs, it’s a flavorful and healthy salad perfect for lunch, dinner, or as a side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Grains
- 1 lb farro
Vegetables
- 1/2 red onion
- 2 zucchini
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup roasted red pepper strips
Seasonings and Dressing
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Maldon sea salt
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Italian herbs seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- small amount of olive oil (about a glug) for sautéing
Instructions
- Rinse Farro: Add farro to a colander and rinse well with cold water to clean and remove excess starch.
- Cook Farro: Boil a large pot of water and add the rinsed farro. Cook until soft to the touch but still slightly firm (al dente), about 15 minutes. Drain well once cooked.
- Sauté Vegetables: While the farro cooks, heat a small amount of olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the half red onion and cook until soft and lightly browned. Stir in minced garlic and diced zucchini. Continue cooking until the zucchini is softened and browned, about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian herb seasoning, garlic powder, Maldon sea salt, and crushed red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Combine Salad: In a large bowl, add the cooked farro, drained roasted red pepper strips, and the sautéed onion, garlic, and zucchini mixture. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for a fresh taste or chill for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld and intensify before serving.
Notes
- Farro can be substituted with other whole grains like barley or quinoa if desired.
- For a vegan or vegetarian diet, this salad is suitable as is.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to taste for desired spiciness.
- Chilling the salad enhances the flavor development and makes it more refreshing.
- Use Maldon sea salt or a coarse salt for better texture and flavor but regular sea salt can also be substituted.
Keywords: farro salad, zucchini salad, roasted red pepper, Mediterranean salad, healthy grain salad, vegetarian salad
