I have news. No, I didn’t get a promotion. No, I’m not moving (yet). No, I’m not engaged (hahaaa). Are you ready for this? I got a dishwasher! Found him on craigslist, a portable Whirlpool, and he’s the most beautiful hunk of metal I’ve ever seen. I only wish we had met sooner, because washing dishes by hand has been the bane of my existence over the past year. You can reasonably expect more recipes to come out of my tiny kitchen now that I have his help.
This recipe is our first collaboration. It’s a Greek salad featuring warm farro, chickpeas and crisp, garden-fresh cucumber courtesy of my friend Alissa. The salad is sort of a deconstructed, abstract falafel sandwich (it’s not too far off from last summer’s falafel salad). Whole chickpeas take the place of the falafel, warm whole grain farro replaces the pita, and the herbed yogurt is tzatziki inspired. It’s simple and full of bright flavors, perfect for summertime.
Greek Farro and Chickpea Salad with Herbed Yogurt
- Author:
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Greek
A colorful and hearty Greek-inspired salad featuring farro, chickpeas, mint-dill yogurt sauce and plenty of greens.
Ingredients
Farro
- 1 cup farro, rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
- ½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
Herbed yogurt
- 1 ¼ cups plain Greek yogurt
- 1 ½ tablespoon lightly packed fresh mint, torn into pieces
- 1 ½ tablespoon lightly packed fresh dill, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (about ½ lemon)
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Salad
- 5 ounces mixed greens
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced into rounds
- 1 cucumber, sliced into thin rounds
- ½ small red onion, chopped and then rinsed under water to mellow the flavor
- 15 pitted Kalamata olives, sliced into rounds
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or one 14-ounce can, rinsed and drained)
- 1 avocado, sliced into strips
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Cook the farro: Add the rinsed farro to a large pot and fill it with water. Bring the water to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to a gentle simmer, and cook until the farro is tender to the bite but still pleasantly chewy. (Pearled farro will take around 15 minutes, unprocessed farro will take 25 to 40 minutes.) Once the farro is done cooking, drain it and mix in the olive oil, garlic and salt.
- Make the herbed yogurt: in a blender or food processor, combine the yogurt, mint, dill, olive oil, lemon juice and salt, and blend. If necessary, add additional olive oil, lemon juice and/or salt to taste.
- Assemble the salad: gently reheat the farro and chickpeas if desired. In individual salad bowls, arrange a couple handfuls of greens, cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumbers and avocado as shown. Add about ¼ of the farro mixture and ¼ of the chickpeas, along with a generous amount of sauce.
Finish the dish by squeezing some lemon juice over the greens (and a drizzle of olive oil if you’d like). Serve.
Notes
- On leftovers: Store leftover components individually (farro, chickpeas, yogurt, greens) in the fridge. Then reheat the farro and throw your next salad together when you’re ready to eat. The yogurt and farro should keep for at least a few days.
- On substitutions: Feel free to substitute wheat berries for the farro, but they will probably take longer to cook. For a gluten-free alternative, try quinoa or long-grain brown rice, cooked according to package directions. Green olives would be a fine substitute for Kalamatas. Crumbled feta would be a nice addition as well.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
jodye @ chocolate an
I’ve really been enjoying farro lately, and this salad looks like a great one to add to the weekly rotation. Plus, I’m immediately sold on anything that includes both olives and avocado. This recipe is a winner for sure!
Holly
I feel your pain on washing dishes by hand. Totally jealous of your dishwasher.
This looks so tasty!
Kathryn
We didn’t get a dishwasher until we’d lived in our new place for a couple of months – it was a joyous day when it arrived. I just felt like nothing ever got properly clean when we were doing it all by hand! This salad = perfect summer eating.
Kate
I can totally relate. I practically skipped out of the store with glee when I went to buy dishwasher detergent. Ah, the joy of the dishwasher.
Haley
Oh yummy! This looks like a perfect summer lunch dish! I need to try the yogurt herb sauce. Do you know how long the yogurt dressing would keep?
Kate
Hey Haley, good question! I think it will last at least a few days in the fridge. The lemon juice should help keep the herbs fresh.
Ashley
Yes to all of this!!! Beautiful! Even though we have a dishwasher I still hand wash at least half the dishes, haha. :)
Beth | {local milk}
Congrats on your new BFF! I’m on of those obsessive people that basically washes the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher…but I still don’t think I could handle doing the dishes w/o one. Dishes period are the bane of my existence & a large part of my infrequent posting…no joke! And I’m obsessed w/ farro lately! It stars in at least a few dinners a night…and I have a cuke from my friend that needs using. This looks perfect!
Kate
DISHES. Ug! Glad you can relate. Farro is awesome. Hope you love the salad if you get around to trying it!
Renee
This looks amazing. Oh, and getting a dishwasher is definitely life changing! Haha
Jess
Oh wow – as a fellow-dishwasher-free-home, I can totally appreciate what a difference this is going to make! I spend as much time washing dishes as cooking! Looking forward to even more great recipes, Kate!
Kate
Dishes are such a drag! I feel your pain. :) If you have space for a dishwasher, you might look on craigslist for a portable one. I plan on selling mine on craigslist when I upgrade to a nicer living situation, but it’s great for now!
Tammela
Beautiful, healthy, looks delicious. I not very familiar with farro but may have to try it.
Kiran
Yay! Congrats on the dishwasher. And I’m hungry just looking at this delicious salad :)
Joanne
Jealous!! Not that I really mind hand-washing dishes, but having a dishwasher would make my life OODLES easier!
Fresh flavored salads like this are what summers are made of!
Kate
You don’t have a dishwasher? How do you manage to come up with so many recipes without one?! You’re amazing, Joanne.
Tieghan
Beautiful!!! I love greek food and all these colors just scream MAKE ME!!
Katy @ Katy'sKitchen
This is so fresh looking and absolutely perfect for summer! Pinned. Congrats on the dishwasher, and beautiful colours in the photos, too!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Katy!
Julie
Just what I needed tonight! A great flavor combo. I used herbs on hand — dried dill, oregano, and garlic powder — for the yogurt. Avocado is usually a favorite, but it got overwhelmed by the other flavors here so I’ll leave it out next time. I added crumbled feta but it didn’t add much either. The yogurt and veggies are the stars of this show.
Kate
Thanks, Julie! So glad you enjoyed the salad. I’m really loving the yogurt—I’ve found that it makes a great dip for veggies and quesadillas, too.
Haley
I LOVE farrow and avocado !!
Harriet
Yumm! I love deconstructed salads, that you get to ‘reconstruct’ on your fork with each mouthful. All those greens and veggies look delicious. I’ve never used farro before, but I think this would be a lovely way to use it!
Kate
Deconstructed salads are my fave, too. Hope you’ll give farro a try soon, it’s really tasty when you toss it with a little garlic, olive oil and salt right after it’s done cooking!
Elaine
Who needs a husband when you have a dishwasher?! Kidding. I sincerely appreciate mine every day . . . especially when he empties the dishwasher. :)
Kate
Haha! Dishwasher + dishwasher emptier = great combo
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
When I lived in a Hollywood studio the size of a shoe box, I didn’t have a dishwasher either, so I understand your excitement! This salad is seriously gorgeous – I love chickpeas and want to dig in!
Kate
Thanks, Laura! Glad you can appreciate my new dishwasher, too. Makes such a difference!
Kate
I hate washing dishes and I’m terrible at it – so I cook and the boyfriend cleans. This looks like the sort of salad I take to work for lunch made up of things I find in the fridge! Yum.
★★★★
Kate
That sounds like a fine setup! It’s usually just me and Cookie in the kitchen, so this dishwasher is a welcome addition. Hope you’ll give the salad a try soon!
Consuelo @ Honey & F
This looks so fresh and summery, I cannot wait to try it :-)
Laura
Yuuuuuum + congratulations on your new sous chef! :)
Kate
Thanks, friend! :)
Katrina @ WVS
That plate is a summer dream. So much goodness, and fun flavours on there! Yum!
Lisa
Congratulations on your dishwasher. I’ve always taken mine for granted but I can imagine how life-changing it must be to have one after going without. I’ve been looking for ways to get more whole grains in my diets – this recipe looks really good – the creamy yogurt dressing sounds divine. I’m going to try this recipe out on my husband and kids. They are, by nature, carnivores, but are trying to cut back and eat healthier.
Kate
Thanks, Lisa! I’m over the moon about my new dishwasher, no exaggeration. The herbed yogurt makes a wonderful dip for veggies or quesadillas, too. Hope your family enjoys the recipe.
petal and plume
this looks excellently awesome! you never disappoint!
xx
annie
This looks delicious! And your little kitchen is super cute =)
Kate
Thank you, Annie!
Kelly
This looks amazing!! :)
Dina
great idea to use farro in your salad. sounds so healthy and good!
Kate
Thanks, Dina! Warm cooked grains and greens go so well together. Yum.
Chelsea Preedy
How fun! I can’t wait until I get a place with a dishwasher. You forget how nice it is to have something wash your dishes for you. That salad looks absolutely amazing. I love all of those bright, fresh flavors together.
Kate
Right? This new dishwasher of mine has made cooking so much more pleasant. Hope you’ll get a chance to try this salad soon!
Ashley-BakerbyNature
Congratulations on your new dishwashing friend! I’m jealous :)
And whoaaaaaa, this salad is gorg!!!
Olga's Flavor Factor
That dish looks deliciously wonderful! And your little kitchen is super cute. Gorgeous presentation too!
Kate
Thank you, Olga!
erin @ yummy supper
Congratulations on your new dishwasher – aka “kitchen assistant.” Your first collaboration looks absolutely delish;)
xoxo
E
Alissa
Whoa! Perfect use for the cucumber. Greek salads are where it’s at.
Sophie
Have most everything on hand for this — running to the store for the rest! Thanks for such beautiful and delicious inspiration, K! I love farro/vegetable salads… this yogurt dressing sounds just perfect!
Sophie
This was just so delicious, thank you Kate! My husband is used to the practice of meatless dinners by now, but I don’t often just serve a salad as an entree. Both of us had happy, satified bellies and tastebuds :) [I know he really loved it because he requested leftovers for his lunch :)] So many good flavors here and everything together was just amazing texturally, and so colorful! This will become a regular. I used cilantro and parsley for the yogurt because at my grocer, the other herbs looked quite wilty/brown/expensive.
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! So glad to hear that you both enjoyed the salad so much, Sophie. Thank you for letting me know! I bet cilantro and parsley were great, too.
Kasey
Hi lovely! I miss your beautiful face and pretty dishes here. I hope you are off enjoying summer (and your dishwasher!) Come back soon :) xo
Kate
Oops, I didn’t realize I’d let the blog posts lapse for so long. All is well over here, just busy with lots of work and a full social calendar. Thanks for checking, friend! Hope you’re having a wonderful summer.
laurasmess
I have a dishwasher…. my husband, haha!! Ah, we’ve been living in a small apartment for the past two years and we have a tiny sink, no draining area…. it’s dish washing hell. We normally tag-team it and swap between washing and drying, though Aaron (my husband) likes to wash as he feels it’s his ‘payment’ for eating everything I cook! He’s the sweetest. This salad looks divine. I adore chickpeas, and the idea of coating the lot in a creamy herbed yoghurt sauce sounds fantastic. You’re endlessly creative, healthy and inspiring. Thanks!! xx
Tina Jui
I really love farro. So happy to have stumbled across your post and recipe!
Kate
Thanks, Tina! I’m glad you found the post. :)
Katie
Ohmygoodness is this ever delicious!!! I have a whole new love for wheatberries now!! Even just the mixture of wheatberries + olive oil + garlic + salt was SO good! I’ll be making all my grains I use in salads that way from now on :)
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! Really happy to hear that you enjoyed the salad so much, Katie. Warm grains with olive oil and garlic are one of my favorite things, too!
Hanna
This looks soo good! I´m totally in love with all your beautiful photoes and fantastic recipes! Thanks for the lovely inspiration!
Taylor @ greens & chocolate
Made this to bring for lunch today…such an awesome salad! I wasn’t sure what I’d think of the mint in the dressing but I love it! :)
Kate
Hooray! Glad you enjoyed it, Taylor. I’m kind of mint obsessed these days. Really want to grow some in my backyard this summer so I have an endless supply for mojitos and salad dressing!
Holly
I made the salad and took it to work with me last weekend. Loved it!! Ate it three days in a row, and wanted more!! The yogurt dressing really makes the salad. Thank you, Kate!!
★★★★
Kate
Hooray! Thanks, Holly!
Paige
Made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious!!! I added feta and know I will be making again and again! Thanks Kate!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Paige!
Julia
Made this last night and it was so delicious! Had some Greek yogurt left over and decided to make this wonderful sauce. I didn’t have any dill, so used only the fresh mint. Went great with bulgar, roasted carrots w/ cumin, kalamata olives, arugula, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
★★★★★
Kate
Way to get creative! Thanks for your review