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This amazing farro salad features cannellini beans, fresh mozzarella, arugula and sun-dried tomatoes all tossed in a bright and delicious basil vinaigrette!
Fun fact: I’m obsessed with farro. I think it’s a highly underrated grain! It’s very nutritious (packed with plant-based protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) and I love the nutty flavor and chewy texture it adds to recipes like this farro salad!
This farro salad recipe was inspired by a local Greek market called Stella’s here in Richmond. I absolutely love their version and wanted to try recreating it at home.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Salad
This recipe is a total keeper, whether you’re serving it as a main or side. Here’s why it’s a go-to in my kitchen:
- Packed with plant-based protein – The farro and cannellini beans make this salad super satisfying, with a great balance of carbs, protein, and fiber.
- Bold, herby flavor – The homemade basil vinaigrette takes this salad to the next level. It’s bright, zesty, and so easy to whip up.
- Simple, nourishing ingredients – Nothing fancy here—just a handful of wholesome ingredients that come together for a flavorful dish.
- Customizable – You can easily add grilled salmon, chicken, or even tofu if you want more protein, or swap arugula for spinach or mixed greens.
// ★★★★★ Review //
“This is such a delicious recipe. I’m having a hard time not eating the whole thing! The dressing is so perfect. I would order this at a restaurant every time! This will be in the regular rotation.” – Britt
Farro Salad Ingredients
- farro – you’ll find dry farro by the other grains in the grocery store. Cook time for the farro will differ based on what variety you buy so you’ll want to follow the instructions on your package. Before cooking it looks like a wheat berry and after cooking it looks similar to barley. In terms of taste, farro has a mild, nutty flavory and a chewy texture. It is a wheat grain so farro does have gluten.
- cannellini beans – also known as white kidney beans. I used canned beans for a shortcut!
- sun-dried tomatoes – look for some that are red instead of brownish in color. I’ve found they’re softer and they add a vibrant color to the salad as well.
- mini mozzarella balls – also known as pearled mozzarella, these little balls are about the size of marble and are perfect in this salad.
- baby arugula – the perfect, zesty green to add to this salad!
- sea salt and pepper – to bring all of the flavors together.
- basil vinaigrette – a delicious combination of basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, shallot, sea salt and pepper.
Substitutions
This salad is super flexible, and you can easily make a few swaps based on what you have on hand or your dietary needs. Here are some ideas:
- Gluten-free option: Swap the farro for brown rice or quinoa. Both work well and still give the salad a nice hearty texture. Quinoa cooks faster and adds a little extra protein, too.
- Cheese swaps: If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, just chop up a larger ball instead—it won’t look as cute, but it’ll still taste amazing. No mozzarella? Crumbled feta works too. You can also skip the cheese entirely to keep it dairy-free.
- Dressings to try: If you’re out of basil, my apple cider vinaigrette or lemon vinaigrette would be tasty here, too. It’ll change the vibe a little, but still delicious.
How to Make Farro Salad
This easy farro salad comes together in just a few steps and makes the perfect lunch, light dinner, or make-ahead side.
Step 1: Cook the farro according to the package directions. Once done, drain and run under cold water to cool. Set aside.
Step 2: Add all the basil vinaigrette ingredients to a high-powered blender and blend until smooth and emulsified.
Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the cooked farro, cannellini beans, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and arugula.
Step 4: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Serve right away or chill in the fridge before enjoying.
Brittany’s Tip
Rinse your farro: Before cooking, give your farro a good rinse to remove any excess starch and debris. It helps the grains stay fluffy and not gummy.
How to Serve Farro Salad
This farro salad could be eaten on its own (it makes a great lunch) or served as a side salad! If you want to add extra protein, it would be delicious with grilled chicken. And if you’re hosting a backyard picnic, it makes an amazing side salad. Here are some other dishes it would pair well with:
- Black bean burgers – Can’t go wrong pairing this salad with a delicious veggie burger!
- Vegan broccoli raisin salad – No picnic is complete without broccoli salad… this has an EBF twist with a vegan dressing!
- Low-carb cauliflower potato salad – A fun take on a traditional potato salad. Use cauliflower instead of potatoes for this low-carb dish.
- Roasted summer squash and zucchini – The perfect way to use up the summer squash that is taking over your garden!
How to Store Leftovers
This salad stores so well! Farro is a heartier grain so I actually think this salad gets better with time. I like to make it a few hours in advance to let the flavors marinate together. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, farro contains gluten. For a gluten-free option, you can swap in brown rice or quinoa instead.
Yes! This salad is great for meal prep. Just wait to add the arugula and dressing until right before serving to keep everything fresh.
I usually go for pearled farro because it cooks faster and still has a great chewy texture. Semi-pearled works too—just adjust the cooking time as needed.
More Salad Recipes to Try
- Greek Chickpea Salad
- Easy Barley Salad with Chickpeas and Pears
- Mediterranean Salmon Salad
- Mediterranean Orzo Salad
- Arugula Salad
- Hearts of Palm Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
Be sure to check out the full collection of salad recipes on EBF!
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Farro Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry farro
- 1 ⅓ cup cannellini beans, 15 oz can, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes, ones that are red instead of brownish in color
- 1 cup mini mozzarella balls, also called pearled mozzarella I think
- 4 cups baby arugula
- additional sea salt and pepper, to taste
Basil Vinaigrette
- 1 cup packed basil, slightly chopped
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup shallot
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions
- Cook farro according to package. You should end up with a little over 2 cups of cooked farro once cooked and drained. Run under cold water to cool. Drain well.
- Add all dressing ingredients into a high powered blender and blend for at least 1 minute, or until basil is really chopped up and dressing is emulsified. Yield: little less than 3/4 cup total
- Add cooked farro, cannellini beans, sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella balls and arugula into a bowl. Add dressing and toss. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired. Serve right away or chill in the fridge before serving. Recipe will keep up to 3 days in the fridge.
Video
Notes
- Farro swap: If needed you can use barley instead of farro for this salad. You could also use quinoa or brown rice for a gluten free option.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published on July 23, 2021, republished on April 17, 2024 and updated on April 5, 2025.
A simple and delicious recipe. Thank you!
This was delicious and super easy to make! I made it exactly as is, but next time will try the suggestion of adding artichoke. Added TJ’s pre-cooked grilled chicken strips for extra protein and served with some grilled eggplant on the side. Great bbq side and nice alternative to pasta salad.
Delicious! I am so excited to hear you gave this recipe a try and it turned out great for you, Lauren. Thank you for taking the time to share your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
I love this salad. The Stella’s version also includes artichoke hearts, which I like, so I added those. Thanks for the recipe.
Of course! I am so glad you are loving this salad, Sonja. Love the idea of adding artichoke hearts, such a great addition. Thank you for taking the time to share your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
This is such a delicious recipe. I’m having a hard time not eating the whole thing! The dressing is so perfect. I would order this at a restaurant every time! This will be in the regular rotation.
YAY! I am so glad you are loving this salad, Britt. It is one of my favorites. Thank you for taking the time to share your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
Delish!! I added sliced grilled chicken and made it a meal. Husband doesn’t like sun dried tomatoes, so I used grape tomatoes instead, and threw in a few black olives. That basil dressing really brings it all together & makes it a bit special. This one will be in the regular rotation.
YUM! This sounds absolutely delicious, I am so glad you and your husband are loving this salad. Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!
Loved this salad! Made it without mozzarella balls because I dont eat dairy and it was still so good!! Also used fresh cherry tomatoes instead of sun dried but will be trying it with sun dried soon:))
Yay! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed this salad, Helen. Thanks so much for sharing your review, I really appreciate it.
So good and very filling! Love the flavors in this salad and a great recipe to prep the night before. Can’t wait to make it again!
Yay! I’m glad you’re enjoying this recipe, Lexie. Thank you for leaving a review and star rating, I really appreciate it!
This is so delish! The textures are fabulous and the basil vinaigrette on the arugula is so flavorful I’d eat it alone. I used brown rice to mimic the size, chew, and nuttiness of the farro for a GF sub and it was great! I’ll be eating this for lunch all week for sure 🙂
Woo! Thanks for sharing your GF swap, Sara. I’m glad this salad was a hit for you!
SO delicious! The homemade dressing really makes it. I also love the sundried tomatos in this- adds a great flavor. This is a delicious side salad for any entree- we paired with grilled chicken and vegetables and it was perfect.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this salad, Madeleine. I appreciate you coming back to leave a review and star rating!
I made this salad for my lunch meal prep and my kids and husband (not really salad eaters) ended up eating the other portions – it was that good! Will be a regular on our meal rotation!
Woo! Love when the whole family approves! Thanks for sharing your review, Emily, it means so much to me!