Farro Cranberry and Goat Cheese Salad is an easy salad recipe that is perfect for serving as a hearty side dish. It’s a must for your holiday table!
If you’re looking for a hearty side dish to serve this fall or at your holiday celebrations, this Farro Salad with Goat Cheese and Cranberries is everything. It has nutty farro, tart cranberries and creamy goat cheese. Then it is all tossed in a sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
All of these ingredients make this a hearty, healthy, flavorful salad that is a must have addition to your table.
Let’s talk about what ingredients you’ll need and how to get it on your table!
What ingredients you’ll need:
- FARRO: A grain with nutty flavor. You can usually find it in the aisle with other grains. I used Bob’s Red Mill Farro.
- BALSAMIC VINEGAR: The sweet flavor of balsamic is a must for this recipe. Don’t substitute another vinegar.
- DIJON MUSTARD: A little spicier and tangier than yellow mustard. In a pinch you can substitute yellow mustard or even stone ground.
- GARLIC POWDER: Or granulated garlic. If you use garlic salt, keep in mind that goat cheese is salty and you don’t want to over salt the dish.
- ROSEMARY: I used dried but you can use fresh. Instead of 1/2 teaspoon you’ll use 2 teaspoons of fresh.
- OLIVE OIL
- DRIED CRANBERRIES: These work so well with the balsamic and the goat cheese. They add a burst of sweet flavor.
- PARSLEY: Adds color and a bit of freshness.
- GOAT CHEESE CRUMBLES: I adore goat cheese. It’s tangy and creamy and works very well in salads. It’s easier to use the crumbles in this salad. If you have a log of goat cheese make sure that it’s really cold so that it is easier to crumble.
How do you make Farro Salad?
Just like any salad, this Farro Salad is pretty easy to make. You will need to cook the farro. Simply follow the directions on the package. Follow along with these Step by Step Photos and Instructions.
Whisk dressing. 
Pour over salad. 
Gently mix.
- STEP #1: Cook farro and allow to cool. It is important to allow it to cool so that it’s not too hot when you add the goat cheese.
- STEP #2: Whisk together the dressing. I like to do this when the farro is cooking so it has a chance for the flavors to meld before I pour it over the salad.
- STEP #3: Combine cooled farro, cranberries, parsley and goat cheese in a bowl.
- STEP #4: Just before serving toss the salad with the dressing.
Storage and leftovers:
This salad makes great leftovers! I love serving it for lunch the next day. I do try to let it come to room temperature again before serving. Usually stays fresh for 3 – 4 days in the refrigerator.
Recipe FAQ:
For those that don’t know, farro is a grain popular in rustic Italian cooking. It has a nutty flavor and works well as a substitute for rice or pasta. So really, if you have some, you can do just about anything with it. Make a risotto with it. Serve it underneath some chicken curry or a hot pasta sauce. For this recipe, I chose to make a salad. And now, seeing how versatile it actually is, I am excited to see what else I can do with it.
It’s a protein! That is one of the things I love about this salad is that it is hearty and will keep you full for a long time.
Not only is this salad a great addition to your holiday table, but it is also great the next day for lunches!
Check out some of my other favorite salad recipes:
This Chickpea Salad is another hearty dish that makes a great lunch or side dish!
Cold Green Bean Salad is one of my favorite things to do with green beans and it is SO pretty on the table!
This Spinach Cranberry Salad is a must make for your holiday season!
I hope you love this Farro, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Salad recipe as much as we do! See how to easy it is to make this Farro, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Salad Below.
Note: This post was originally posted in 2012. It was updated in 2017 and again in 2022 with new photos, step by step photos, a video and nutrition information.
Servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups pearled farro
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 8 ounces goat cheese crumbles
Instructions
- Cook farro according to package directions. Drain. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
- While farro is cooking, whisk balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, garlic powder and rosemary together in a bowl. Slowly whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Allow to sit at room temperature.
- Once farro has cooled, toss with cranberries, parsley and goat cheese.
- When you are ready to serve the salad, pour dressing over the top. Toss well. Serve at room temperature.
I am so happy to hear this, Tara! Thank you for taking the time to return and leave a comment :)
Absolutely love the dish. Huge hit every time I make it. Perfect to bring to any fall/winter party.
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This farro salad sounds so healthy and delicious! I will definitely give it a try soon. Thanks.
I cannot recommend freezing, sorry!
Can I freeze my Farro, cranberry goat cheese Salad ?
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I love the addition of the pumpkin seeds! Thanks for the pin! :)
This was absolutely delicious! I loved the combination of the dressing with the craisins and goat cheese. We omitted the parsley and rosemary (we didn’t have any in the house), but added roasted pumpkin seeds for a crunch and nutritional boost. Your recipe is fantastic. Pinned! Thank you.
[…] 3. Farro, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Salad With four times as much fiber as brown rice, farro is an extra-filling way to gobble up some grains. Its roasted, nutty flavor shines in this tasty salad. Bonus: This recipe takes only 15 minutes to make! Prepare it ahead of time and serve at room temperature. Photo and Recipe: Des / Life’s Ambrosia […]
Hi Lisa! That is 2 cups uncooked farro. I hope you enjoy this!
Can’t wait to make this! Is that 2 cups of cooked farro or uncooked? Thx:)
This sounds great! If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, they also have been carrying Farro lately, but I’ll have to look for it in bulk now that I know Costco has it :)
I just recently discovered farro. So good! Can’t wait to try this recipe soon.
I love farro! Pinning now!
So Jealous; wish my Costco would carry farro! The salad looks fantastic!
This is so wonderful. I must get to Whole Foods, the only place I can get farro. We use dried cranberries often in our house and are both fond of goat cheese. I’m thinking that gorgonzola might be good, especially given that I happen to have some in the fridge.