Holiday Flash Sale! Save 50% On The Forks Meal Planner Annual Plan Get It Now

Farro Salad with Beets and Roasted Grapes

  • Prep-time: / Ready In:
  • Makes 14 cups
  • Serving size: 2⅓ cups
  • Print/save recipe

The success of this hearty farro salad bowl lies in the interplay of bitter and sweet flavors. Radicchio and endive provide the bitter, and roasted grapes and beets lend the sweet. Never roasted grapes before? It’s easy: Pop them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until they get soft. Don’t be surprised to find yourself looking for more roasted grapes recipes and adding the juicy jewels to all sorts of dishes! A thyme-scented balsamic dressing—featuring extra flavor from Dijon mustard and tomato paste—ties everything together. This simple salad takes an hour from start to finish but only requires 30 minutes of active prep time and is perfect for sharing with friends or enjoying throughout the week as a lunch or evening meal.

Tips

Farro: Feel free to substitute semipearled or quick-cooking farro for the pearled farro; just be sure to check package directions, as cooking times vary.

For more inspiration, check out these tasty ideas:

By Laura Marzen, RD, LD,

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. small to medium yellow or orange beets, peeled and cut into ½-inch wedges
  • 12 oz. red seedless grapes, on the stems
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1¼ cups pearled farro (see tip, recipe intro)
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon no-salt-added tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 head radicchio, cored and torn
  • 1 head Belgian endive, trimmed and leaves pulled apart
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Arrange beets in a single layer in a 3-quart. rectangular baking dish. Add 2 tablespoons water. Cover and roast 35 minutes. Cut grapes into small- to medium-size clusters. Uncover beets; stir and push beets to one side of baking dish. Add grape clusters to other side of dish. Roast, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes more or until beets are tender and grapes are just softened.
  • Meanwhile, in a large saucepan bring 2½ cups water and ½ teaspoon of the salt to boiling. Add farro and onion; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and farro is tender. Drain excess liquid, if necessary. Cool 10 minutes.
  • For dressing, in a medium bowl whisk together the next five ingredients (through maple syrup) and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt.
  • Toss radicchio and endive together on a large platter. Top with farro, beets, and grape clusters. Drizzle dressing over top. Sprinkle with pine nuts (if using).
Nutritional Information:

Per serving (2⅓ cups): 306 calories, 59 g carbohydrates, 9 g protein, 3 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 368 mg sodium, 11 g fiber, 19 g sugar

Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.

Comments (2)

(5 from 1 vote)

Recipe Rating

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Terry

The nutritional information lists 19 grams of sugar. This seems high. Should that be a concern?

Lisa, Forks Over Knives Support

Hi Terry, Thanks for your question. The sugar in this recipe comes from whole foods, like beets, grapes, and farro. Because they are natural whole foods, the sugar differs from processed sugar, which has little fiber and can cause a spike in glucose levels. You can read more about the science behind healthy high-carb diets in this article: https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellness/are-carbs-bad-science-against-low-carb-diets/

About the Author

Headshot of recipe developer and nutritionist Laura Marzen by Theresa Schumacher Photography

About the Author

Laura Marzen, RD, LD

Laura Marzen, RD, LD, is known for developing approachable recipes using her attention to detail and relying on two decades of experience creating and testing recipes. She created and tested recipes while working in the Better Homes & Gardens test kitchen for over seven years. Since then, she has gone on to develop more than 1,000 recipes for national magazines. In addition to her work developing recipes, Marzen uses her passion for healthy eating to coach women on improving their digestion and health in a way that's practical and sustainable. She has consulted for authors Rocco DiSpirito and Joy Bauer and has appeared on both local and national news and television programs on behalf of Better Homes & Gardens and Living the Country Life. With her work coaching women to improve their health, Marzen has extensive knowledge on the topics of digestion, metabolism, inflammation and IBS. Marzen earned a B.S. degree in dietetics from Iowa State University. She followed that with a dietetic internship and classes in public health at the University of Iowa through the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Learn more on her website. Photo by Theresa Schumacher Photography
See More from this Author

Join our mailing list

Get free recipes and the latest info on living a happy, healthy plant-based lifestyle.

By providing your email address, you consent to receive newsletter emails from Forks Over Knives. We value your privacy and will keep your email address safe. You may unsubscribe from our emails at any time.