Charred Broccoli Tahini Farro Salad (Printable Version)
Smoky broccoli meets nutty farro in a creamy tahini dressing for this hearty Mediterranean bowl.
# What You'll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup farro, rinsed
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Vegetables
04 - 2 medium heads broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
→ Tahini Dressing
08 - 1/4 cup tahini
09 - 3 tablespoons lemon juice
10 - 2 tablespoons water
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Toppings
16 - 1/4 cup toasted almonds, roughly chopped
17 - 2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds
# How To Make:
01 - In a medium saucepan, combine farro, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes until tender. Drain any excess water and set aside to cool.
02 - Preheat a grill pan or cast-iron skillet over high heat. Toss broccoli florets with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Grill or sear for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred and just tender. Remove from heat.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add more water for a thinner consistency if desired.
04 - In a large bowl, combine cooked farro, charred broccoli, red onion, and parsley. Drizzle with tahini dressing and toss to coat.
05 - Transfer to a serving platter, top with toasted almonds and pomegranate seeds. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of warm charred broccoli and cool nutty farro creates this incredible temperature contrast that makes every bite interesting
- It actually tastes better the next day, so you can make it ahead and feel smart about your lunch
02 -
- The tahini dressing will seize up and turn into a weird paste when you first add the lemon juice, keep whisking and it will smooth out
- Faro comes in different varieties, pearled cooks faster while whole takes longer, so check your package and adjust cooking time accordingly
03 -
- Buy tahini from the Middle Eastern section of your grocery store, it's usually better quality and cheaper than the stuff in the health food aisle
- If your broccoli florets are huge, cut them in half so they char evenly and don't end up raw in the middle