There are so many options for summer salads, but somehow I ended up making a new version of the Greek salad. I love Mediterranean gastronomy, and this (and so many lovely others) is one of the reasons we visited many of the Greek islands, and this summer we spent a long holiday in Cyprus.
The olive oil, the fresh vegetables, cooking al fresco, the mint and rosemary scented air, the light, the sea, the sound of cicadas, the chill—everything is a picture of perfection.
This is why, in the summertime, I use the same ingredients and make endless variations of the famous salad. I’m trying to recreate that atmosphere of calm and relaxation that we sometimes forget and let it be absorbed by our daily routine.
My salad is rather a mix of Turkish, Israeli, Italian, and Greek inspiration. The grilled vegetables, the farro addition, the spices—these are all nourishing additions to the classic salad with my own mix of Mediterranean flavors.
The combination of cold, fresh ingredients with the warm ones is very alluring, and this salad can make a meal on its own because it’s filled with whole grains loaded with fiber and protein to satiate you.
When putting together salads like this one, I follow some basic rules:
– Cook the grains with salt and spices or aromatic herbs, so they taste delicious even before adding them to the salad.– Combine the grains with fresh, ripe vegetables in-season, organic if possible—the taste of a ripe tomato is dramatically different in summer when it’s in-season and picked from the farmers’ market stalls compared to the taste of a tomato bought in winter from the supermarket.
– Use the best extra virgin olive oil you can afford—it will change things completely.
You can make this salad with any other grain or pulse you prefer—sometimes I add chickpeas or a mix of lentils and bulgur, but maintain the same rules when putting it together to get the best results.
- ½ cup farro, uncooked
- 2 tbsp home made pesto
- 17 oz mixed cherry tomatoes (yellow and red)
- 1 big ripe tomato, diced
- 1 red pepper, cut into slices
- 1 onion, cut into quarters
- 1 celery stalk
- 5 champignon mushrooms
- 1 carrot, cut into slices
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp red chili flakes
- ½ cup good quality feta cheese
- 1 spring fresh rosemary
- For the dressing
- 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Pinch sea salt
- 1 tsp sumac
- 1small bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 5-6 leaves fresh mint, chopped
- Add the farro grains into a medium sauce pot, add 1&1/2 cups purified water, drizzle olive oil, salt, cumin and the rosemary spring, bring to boil over medium heat, then cover with a lid and simmer over low heat until the grains are cooked, about 20 minutes. Set aside.
- Heat the grill.
- In a medium bowl add the cherry tomatoes red pepper, onion, celery, mushrooms, carrots, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, cumin and chili, and toss to coat evenly.
- Grill the veggies, then transfer into a bowl.
- In a small bowl mix the dressing ingredients.
- To assemble the salad, pour evenly the dressing into the jars, add a layer of cooked farro, a tablespoon pesto, a few grilled veggies, diced fresh tomato and crumble feta cheese.
- Lid the jar and shake before serving.
September 4, 2016
Love your photo of the imperfect vegetables! They look very tastfull! Still love your blog!!
September 7, 2016
Thank you Virginie 🙂 There is a lot of beauty in imperfection!
September 25, 2016
Cyprus is such a wonderful place, and I definitely agree with you – the Mediterranean gastronomy is amazing. This recipe look so delicious, and I need to try it while the weather is still somewhat warm here in Denmark.
Love, Emma
http://www.martinyfood.com
October 1, 2016
Happy to hear we have the same gastronomy preferences, and indeed, Cyprus is lovely! Thanks for your visit Emma 🙂