Apple Farro and Bacon Salad

Salad is not only reserved for the summertime. It is delicious any time of the year. This apple farro and bacon salad hits all of the flavor notes. This hearty salad is PACKED with yummy ingredients like bacon and tart apple slices. Every bite holds tangy and tart flavors with delightful crunch thanks to the apples and bacon.

While this farro salad is a fantastic side dish, it can certainly hold its own as a delicious lunch or dinner too.

Ingredients

• Cooked Farro: Farro is relatively easy to prepare. My favorite farro, however, is Trader Joe's 10-Minute Farro. Why? Because it comes together in just 10 minutes: instant farro.
• Apple: Farro and apple work so well together. This recipe calls for tart, green apple slices. You can certainly use any apple you like, however, the tartness of the green apples is fantastic with the flavors in this salad.
• Celery: Chopped celery adds crunch and texture to this dish.
• Red Onion: The slices of red onion add a nice bite to the flavor profile. Red onion in particular works fantastically well with the apple and bacon.
• Bacon: While you can certainly purchase already made bacon bits, I find just made bacon to be so much better. The larger, home-cooked pieces are also more ideal. You can use regular applewood smoked bacon, or turkey bacon (which is what I used).
• Arugula: Arugula is the green of choice in this recipe. It is peppery and slightly bitter, which works so well with the other ingredients.
• Goat Cheese: Creamy, tangy goat cheese is the finishing touch to this salad. It is crumbled over the top at the end of the preparation. *See below for substitutions.
• Homemade Dressing: The homemade salad dressing is made from olive oil (I used Cuac Extra Virgin Olive Oil), apple cider vinegar, and dijon mustard. You can use the seeded or unseeded dijon.

Where to Buy Farro

Farro is a great staple ingredient for any time of the year. What goes well with farro? Well, just about anything can be paired with farro. It makes a healthy, nutrient-packed rice substitute with protein. As with the case of this farro recipe, it's a great grain for salads. It has a nutty taste and holds its shape.

My all-time favorite farro is Trader Joe's 10-Minute Farro. It is incredibly easy and quick to cook, which makes it ideal. However, Bob's Red Mill Farro is a great one as well. These days you should be able to find farro at most grocery stores, as well as Amazon and other websites. You will find farro in the grain aisle alongside quinoa and rice.

• HOW TO COOK FARRO - The process is similar to cooking pasta. Bring a pot half full of water to a boil. Add the farro and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook until the farro is tender, but still has a bite.

Why These Flavors Work

While you may not think to put apple and bacon together, the flavors pair beautifully. In addition to the textural harmony of the two ingredients, it is a sweet and salty balance that brings the flavors together.

The tart apples, tangy goat cheese, and savory bacon are a match made in heaven. The farro is nutty and wholesome which brings the viably opposite ingredients together in harmony. The peppery arugula provides an added element of support for all of the ingredients.

Ingredient Substitutions

If there is something in this recipe that you do not like or do not have on hand, here are some other ingredients that would be lovely within this recipe.

• A good farro substitute is pearl barley. You could also use quinoa or pearl couscous. They have relatively similar cooking techniques and textures that work well in salads.
• If you do not or cannot eat apples, a nice stone fruit would be nice here. Nectarines work well with bacon and farro, just like apples.
• As I stated above, turkey bacon can be used instead of regular bacon.
• If you do not like goat cheese, some nice substitutes include crumbled feta or blue cheese.
• Dried cranberries or cherries would make a nice addition to the flavor profile of this farro salad as well.
• The baby arugula can certainly be substituted with baby kale.

Other Salads You Will Love

• Farro Salad with Fruit and Honey Mustard Dressing
• Arugula Farro Salad with Strawberries
• Simple Autumn Salad
• Avocado Arugula Salad with Lime Dressing

This apple farro and bacon salad is great any time of the day. It is hearty and packed with good-for-you ingredients, especially if you use turkey bacon as I did. This farro apple salad is a great lunch option, but would also make a great side to a grilled chicken or pork. This full-flavored, fall-inspired salad is one that you are going to want to try!

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