This healthy winter farro salad bowl has sweet potatoes, kale, and dried cranberries for a delicious combination. It is an easy lunch that is perfect for making at home or preparing for lunches for meal prep.
I love farro. And I love sweet potatoes. And I love kale. So I decided to combine them all to make healthy and delicious winter farro salad. Made even better with the addition of dried cranberries!
This farro bowl is a nice healthy option during the cold winter months. It's nice and warm from the farro and sweet potatoes, but has a nice crispness and freshness from the kale. It's also easy to meal prep!
Other grain options
If you don't have farro around, you can swap it out with another grain.
Popular choices for grain bowls include brown rice, quinoa, and couscous. I love farro though. It has a slightly nutty taste, which adds a nice flavor to a grain bowl.
It's also pretty healthy and rich in fiber! I always keep some around to make whenever I need!
Kale options
For this winter farro salad bowl, I used curly kale, but you could always swap out for Tuscan kale if you have that in your garden or refrigerator. I LOVE Tuscan kale, but it can be a bit harder to find at the store.
Salad dressing options
I like to use this creamy apple cider vinaigrette to toss my greens with, but use your favorite dressing! This preserved lemon vinaigrette is also a favorite of mine. And if you're looking for something a little spicier, harissa vinaigrette is a great option!
Root veggie options
And if you need a swap for sweet potatoes, butternut squash is another great healthy option with a similar flavor profile! I roast up the sweet potato and get it a little caramelized, which adds a touch of sweetness to the farro bowl.
Additions
And then, I added dried cranberries for a little more sweetness and a slightly different texture. So good!
I used some shredded sharp cheddar cheese in the bowl for a touch of saltiness and creaminess, but you can always leave out if you want. I preferred the farro bowl with the cheddar cheese, but Josh preferred it without. The nice thing is this bowl is completely customizable!
Some nuts like walnuts, pistachios, slivered almonds, or pecans would add a nice healthy crunch.
How to make the winter farro salad
First, preheat the oven and dice up your sweet potato into 1 inch cubes. Toss with oil and any seasonings. Roast the sweet potato until tender.
Next, cook up your farro!
And then while the farro is cooking, get your greens and any other ingredients ready.
Once everything is all cooked and ready, assemble your farro salad.
It's fun to serve the farro salad bowl with all the ingredients separated out. It looks so pretty that way!
And then mix them all together before eating (or not)! It's completely up to you.
More healthy recipes
- Tuscan Kale Salad with Apples and Cheddar Cheese
- Pan Fried Salmon with Roasted Veggies
- Air Fryer Kale Chips
- Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
- Air Fryer Mediterranean Veggies
Winter Farro Salad
Ingredients
- 1 sweet potato, medium
- 1 cup farro, cooked
- 2 cups curly kale, stems removed
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup cheddar cheese, grated
- salad dressing
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Peel and dice the sweet potato into 1 inch cubes. Place on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cook for 25 minutes, tossing around the 15 minute mark, until soft and cooked through.
- Cook the farro according to package directions.
- Take some curly kale leaves, remove the center stems, and chop into bite-sized pieces. Toss with your favorite salad dressing.
- Into a bowl, place the farro, sweet potatoes, kale, grated cheddar cheese, and dried cranberries. Mix together and enjoy.
Notes
- Leave out the cheddar cheese if you desire.
- For the dressing for the kale, you can use your favorite dressing. (Though ranch is probably not the best option! We recommend a vinaigrette!) We've been using this apple cider vinaigrette.
- You can also substitute Tuscan kale for the curly kale if you desire.
- If you don't want to use farro or can't find it, use brown rice or quinoa.
Nutrition
If nutrition info is shown, values are based on an online calculator and are estimates. Please verify using your own data.
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