Manchego Apple Kale Farro Salad
A hearty, crunchy salad that perfectly balances sweet apples, nutty farro, and salty manchego cheese.
recipesbynani.comThis harvest salad is one of my absolute favorites for a fresh lunch or a colorful side dish during the cooler months. It combines chewy farro with crisp apples and hearty kale for a texture that feels satisfying and healthy.
The maple cider dressing ties everything together with a touch of sweetness. My favorite tip is to massage your kale with a little olive oil before adding the other ingredients, as it makes the leaves much softer and easier to eat.
🧺 Ingredients
- 1 cup dry farro
- 4 cups chopped kale
- 2 crisp apples, diced
- 1/2 cup shaved manchego cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
👩🍳Instructions
- 1
Cook the farro in a pot of boiling water according to the package directions until tender, then drain and let it cool completely.
- 2
Whisk the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a small bowl to create your dressing.
- 3
Place the chopped kale in a large bowl and drizzle with a little dressing, then massage the leaves with your hands for a minute until they look dark green and soft.
- 4
Add the cooled farro, diced apples, and the rest of the dressing to the bowl with the kale.
- 5
Toss everything together well and top with the shaved manchego cheese, pecans, and pumpkin seeds before serving.
💡 Tips
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. If you are prepping this ahead of time, keep the pecans and pumpkin seeds separate until the very last second so they stay nice and crunchy.
Made this recipe? Let us know how it went.
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