Farro Salad with Apples, Halloumi, and Herbs
Photo: Jennifer Causey
Nutty, salty, and sweet, this hearty salad is best with apples that soften when cooked but still hold their shape. Find farro, a type of wheat berry, at well-stocked grocery stores. Most farro sold today is semipearled, a process that removes some of the bran for quicker cooking. If the package instructions call for soaking overnight, you have whole-grain farro and will also need to cook it longer, usually 45 minutes to an hour.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Make salad: Combine 1 qt. water, the farro, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt in a 3- to 4-qt. saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until farro is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain farro and spread on a baking sheet to cool and dry at least 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, add parsley and thyme, and toss to combine.
Step 2
2
Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, honey, shallot, and salt. Whisk in oil in a thin stream. Pour over farro mixture and toss well to coat.
Step 3
3
Pat halloumi dry. Set a 12-in. frying pan (not nonstick) over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp. oil, heat for a minute, then add halloumi in a single layer. Cook, turning once, until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 4 minutes total. Transfer cheese to a work surface and cut into 1/2- to 3/4-in. pieces.
Step 4
4
Wipe out frying pan with a paper towel, then add remaining 2 tbsp. oil and return to medium-high heat. Add apples and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add sugar and cook, turning apples occasionally, until golden and tender, 5 to 9 minutes.
Step 5
5
Transfer apples to work surface and cut in half crosswise. Toss apples and halloumi with farro mixture. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Step 6
6
*Find farro, a type of wheat berry, at well-stocked grocery stores. Most farro sold today is semipearled, a process that removes some of the bran for quicker cooking. If the package instructions call for soaking overnight, you have whole-grain farro and will also need to cook it longer--usually 45 minutes to an hour.
Ingredients
SALAD
1 1/2 cups pearled or semipearled farro (also called perlato farro)*
1 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 cup roughly chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
8 ounces halloumi cheese, cut into 1/3-in.-thick slices
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tender-sweet apples, such as Gravenstein, Gala, or Ginger Gold, unpeeled and cut into 1/2-in.-wide wedges
2 teaspoons sugar
DRESSING
5 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
Step 1
1
Make salad: Combine 1 qt. water, the farro, and 1 1/2 tsp. salt in a 3- to 4-qt. saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until farro is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Drain farro and spread on a baking sheet to cool and dry at least 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl, add parsley and thyme, and toss to combine.
Step 2
2
Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, honey, shallot, and salt. Whisk in oil in a thin stream. Pour over farro mixture and toss well to coat.
Step 3
3
Pat halloumi dry. Set a 12-in. frying pan (not nonstick) over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp. oil, heat for a minute, then add halloumi in a single layer. Cook, turning once, until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 4 minutes total. Transfer cheese to a work surface and cut into 1/2- to 3/4-in. pieces.
Step 4
4
Wipe out frying pan with a paper towel, then add remaining 2 tbsp. oil and return to medium-high heat. Add apples and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add sugar and cook, turning apples occasionally, until golden and tender, 5 to 9 minutes.
Step 5
5
Transfer apples to work surface and cut in half crosswise. Toss apples and halloumi with farro mixture. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Step 6
6
*Find farro, a type of wheat berry, at well-stocked grocery stores. Most farro sold today is semipearled, a process that removes some of the bran for quicker cooking. If the package instructions call for soaking overnight, you have whole-grain farro and will also need to cook it longer--usually 45 minutes to an hour.
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