Farro Salad with Olives, Walnuts and Pecorino

April 8, 2026

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This big-flavored farro salad was my contribution to a lovely Easter unfold with buddies this yr. It’s a favourite farro salad variation I’ve returned to for a few years, and one I included it in my Close to & Far cookbook. The components are quirky and sudden – wild quantities of pitted inexperienced olives, loads of toasted walnuts, scallions, honey, olive oil, and one thing candy like yellow raisins or dates alongside semi-pearled farro. I made 4 occasions the recipe beneath for Sunday. Leftovers are perfection tossed with some arugula and topped with a easy fried or poached egg.

The Elements: Farro Salad with Olives, Walnuts & Pecorino

A number of ideas on key components.

Farro: After years of experimenting, I all the time purchase semi-pearled farro for this salad. The pearling course of takes away among the outer bran layer. You find yourself with a chewy, nutty grain that softens properly whereas nonetheless holding its construction. Farro packaging makes use of a spread of terminology, simply search for semi-pearled or pearled. I typically see one of these farro in Italian groceries, in bulk bins, or within the Italian part of markets (close to pastas or pasta sauces). It takes about 10-Quarter-hour to prepare dinner.
Olives: In my authentic headnote I famous “large Sicilian Castelvetrano olives are my selection right here, however any great-tasting inexperienced olives will do – Cerignola, Lucques, or Sevillano – ideally from an olive bar, not a can.” However I’ll be trustworthy, I haven’t made this in years with out Castelvetrano olives. They work completely with the farro and toasted walnuts and pair superbly with sheep’s milk pecorino.
Cheese: the of completion right here is shaved pecorino cheese. I like to purchase a light textured (semi-stagionato) one which isn’t too younger or aged too lengthy – someplace within the center. It must be assertive sufficient to face as much as the opposite daring taste in play, however not overly sturdy or salty. And use an excellent quantity, I principally go away that as much as you. As individuals dig into the serving bowl it breaks up into smaller flecks and clings to the walnuts and olives.
Chopped dates or raisins: You want a candy part on this salad, and I have a tendency to achieve for no matter I’ve within the kitchen. This time I went with chopped dates, however golden raisins additionally work effectively. You would mess around with dried cherries, and even chopped dried apricots.