This fresh chopped salad with whole grains is super flavorful and totally addictive. I love the way it sits and gets better on the second day! The apples hold up and the cabbage and fennel don't get soggy. it's the perfect mix of crunchy, colorful and flavorful mixed with varying textures and tastes.
1granny smith applesliced into thin strips, or diced
1pomegranateabout 1 cup seeds
3cupscooked farro
Instructions
See directions in "notes" to make farro. Let it cook while you get the dressing and salad made. You can also make the farro in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to assemble salad.
Tahini Dressing
Stir tahini and pomegranate syrup together in a glass measuring cup. Squeeze the lemon right over the cup. Mix well.
Grate the garlic over the cup, sprinkle in the salt and pepper. Mix again. It will be thick and pasty.
Pour in ¼ cup water and mix vigorously until well incorporated. If dressing is still too thick to pour, add water 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing thoroughly before adding any more. Set aside while chopping the salad.
Chop the Salad
Roughly chop cabbage. Set aside in large bowl.
Cut red onion into very small dice. If the onion is large, only use half. Add to bowl.
Trim top off jalapeno pepper. Cut flesh off each side, discarding the seeds. Cut into strips and then across to form very small diced pieces. Add to bowl.
Cut the top off the fennel bulb. Take the wispy fronds and set aside to sprinkle onto the finished salad. Use a very sharp knife or a mandolin to shave thin slices of fennel from that cut end, towards the root. Add to the salad bowl.
No need to peel the apple, but wash well. Cut into chunks off each side, discarding the core. Then cut into thin strips...or cut into small dice. Save this to cut last, so it doesn't turn brown. If you're meal prepping this salad, wait to chop the apple until ready to assemble/serve.
Dress and Mix
Pour half the dressing onto the salad. Mix. Mix some more. The goal would be to lightly dress the salad. Enough dressing so the apple is barely coated, just enough so it doesn't turn brown. Pour a bit more dressing, if needed, and then serve the rest on the side for those who like more.
Notes
TIME: You can chop everything in the time it takes to make the farro in your instant pot. Truly a 15 minute meal prep situation. If you cook the farro on the stovetop, be prepared for it to take about 30 minutes...but that is passive time. No need to do anything...and you can do this step a day or two in advance if that works better for you. FARRO: For 3 cups cooked farro, you will need 1 cup dry farro. Rinse well. Add 1.5 cups water plus farro to the instant pot. Cook on high pressure for 5 minutes and let it naturally release about 10 minutes. Or, cook on the stovetop. Add 2 cups water to the rinsed farro. Simmer, covered for 25-30 minutes until all water has evaporated and farro is tender, with just a bit of bite to it. DRESSING: Recipe will make 1 cup dressing. NUTRITION INFORMATION is based on this salad serving 6, but my experience is that it serves 8-10 as a side.