Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad: A Fresh, Healthy Summer Grain Recipe

This Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad is a healthy summer grain salad featuring nutty farro tossed with homemade pesto, sweet strawberries, juicy tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella.

This post is sponsored by Driscoll’s.

As the warmth of summer settles in, my kitchen philosophy naturally shifts towards simplicity, vibrancy, and the sheer delight of fresh, seasonal ingredients. This season, my days have been a wonderful blend of leisurely visits to the bustling farmer’s market, long, refreshing walks with Marley, and a decidedly minimalist approach to cooking. If you’ve noticed my (unintentional) quietness these past few weeks, it’s because I’ve been wholeheartedly embracing all that Chicago summer has to offer. This precious time has allowed me to reflect, recharge, and brainstorm new content ideas, ensuring this space remains fun, exciting, and perpetually fresh for all of you.

The culinary spark for today’s delightful farro recipe ignited directly from my most recent trip to our neighborhood farmer’s market. We are incredibly fortunate to live within a few blocks of this vibrant hub, and I confess I’ve been single-handedly keeping one stall in business by buying out all their glorious fresh basil and sun-kissed sungold tomatoes. The sheer abundance and quality of peak-season produce make it irresistible to experiment and create dishes that truly celebrate summer’s bounty.

A personal ritual in my kitchen involves whipping up large batches of homemade pesto in my food processor. This aromatic green sauce is incredibly versatile and quickly finds its way onto almost everything: from fluffy morning omelettes and simple green salads to grilled meats, seafood, and roasted vegetables. Any precious leftovers are thoughtfully frozen, ready to transform into quick, flavorful weeknight meals or effortlessly elevated pasta dinners when time is of the essence. Having a stash of homemade pesto is truly a game-changer for infusing deep, fresh flavor into any dish with minimal effort.

In an exciting twist on culinary tradition, I sought inspiration from two beloved summer staples: the classic Caprese salad, with its iconic pairing of ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and aromatic basil, and my all-time favorite peach burrata salad. The result is this gorgeously vibrant Caprese Farro Salad, a dish that proudly showcases my favorite ingredients of the season: bright basil, succulent fresh strawberries, and sweet sun-gold tomatoes. This salad is not just a meal; it’s a celebration of summer’s incredible produce, harmoniously blended into a refreshing and satisfying experience.

The Star of the Show: Nutty Farro

At the very core of this healthy grain salad is farro, an ancient grain revered for its satisfyingly chewy texture and distinctly nutty flavor. Often celebrated in Italian cuisine, farro is a wonderful alternative to more common grains like quinoa or brown rice, offering a unique depth and substance to any dish. It’s a fantastic source of plant-based protein, dietary fiber, and essential minerals such, making it an excellent choice for a wholesome and filling meal.

One of farro’s standout qualities is how beautifully it absorbs flavors, making it an ideal canvas for vibrant dressings like pesto. Its robust structure also ensures it holds up well in salads, preventing sogginess and providing a pleasant textural contrast to the softer elements. Whether you choose whole farro, which retains all its layers and requires a longer cook time, or pearled farro, which cooks faster, you’ll be rewarded with a delicious and nutritious base for your summer creations.

Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad Ingredients: A Fresh Summer Twist

Envision this Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad as a vibrant, sweeter, and distinctly summery reimagining of the spring wheat berry salad I shared a few months back. While that recipe celebrated the early bounty of spring, this version fully embraces the peak flavors of summer, adding an unexpected but utterly harmonious sweetness.

The core of this delightful dish features perfectly cooked, nutty farro grains, generously coated in a bright, aromatic homemade basil pesto. This wholesome base is then lovingly combined with succulent, juicy Driscoll’s strawberries, creamy mozzarella pearls, and a medley of sweet sungold, cherry, or other small heirloom tomatoes. Each ingredient is thoughtfully chosen to create a symphony of flavors and textures, making every forkful a moment to savor.

The Unexpected Star: Sweet Strawberries

The inclusion of strawberries in this Caprese-inspired salad is where the magic truly happens. These vibrant berries introduce a delightful touch of natural sweetness that beautifully complements the herbaceous basil and the creamy richness of the mozzarella. Beyond their incredible taste, strawberries contribute a stunning pop of color, transforming the salad into a visually captivating dish. Picture them as glistening, ruby-red berry jewels, elevating the overall aesthetic and adding a burst of fresh, summery charm.

It’s funny how our palates evolve; it took me nearly 25 years to truly appreciate the idea of incorporating fruit into savory salads. However, once I overcame that initial hesitation, a whole new world of flavor combinations opened up! Strawberries, in particular, prove to be an exceptional partner to basil and mozzarella, creating a refreshing and well-balanced flavor profile that is both familiar and excitingly new.

A Feast for the Eyes: Vibrant Colors and Textures

Oh, the colors! This salad is a true masterpiece of visual appeal, embodying health in every vibrant spoonful. The rich green of the basil pesto, the cheerful ruby red of the strawberries and tomatoes, and the creamy white of the mozzarella pearls coalesce into an incredibly enticing tableau. It’s a sensory experience that reminds us precisely what summer eating is all about: fresh, colorful, deeply nourishing, and utterly delicious. This dish is designed to be as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.

Mastering Farro: Tips for a Perfect Grain Base

One of the most appealing aspects of Italian farro, especially for busy individuals, is its relatively short cooking time – typically under 30 minutes, making it an excellent choice for quick weeknight dinners or preparing ahead for meal prep. To ensure perfectly cooked farro, always rinse it thoroughly before adding it to a medium saucepan filled with cold, generously salted water. Bring the water to a boil, then add the rinsed farro, stir gently, and simmer until the grains are tender yet retain a pleasant chew (al dente). Avoid overcooking to maintain its desirable texture.

After cooking, rapidly cooling the farro is key to preventing it from clumping together and continuing to cook. Drain it in a fine-meshed sieve and immediately spread it into a thin, even layer on a half sheet pan or a large mixing bowl. This technique allows it to cool completely at room temperature, or you can speed up the process by placing it in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. This ensures each grain remains distinct and ready to beautifully absorb the pesto dressing. For those seeking alternatives, more affordable and slightly chewier wheat berries can be used in place of farro; they are quite interchangeable, simply adjust cooking times as necessary.

Customize Your Caprese Farro Salad: Endless Possibilities!

One of the most appealing features of this Caprese Farro Salad recipe is its incredible adaptability. It serves as a fantastic foundation, allowing you to easily customize it based on your personal preferences, what ingredients you have on hand, or the freshest produce available at your local market. Don’t have sungold tomatoes? No worries! You can simply leave them out, or substitute with any ripe cherry or grape tomatoes, halved, to maintain that burst of juicy flavor. The goal is to celebrate fresh tomatoes in season.

While the unparalleled flavor of homemade pesto is highly recommended, using a good quality store-bought prepared pesto is perfectly acceptable for this salad, especially when you’re short on time. Just be mindful to choose a pesto that is relatively mild in garlic flavor, as an overpowering garlic presence can sometimes detract from the delicate sweetness of the strawberries. If your chosen pesto is a bit too thick, a small drizzle of extra virgin olive oil can help achieve the perfect consistency for coating the farro and other ingredients evenly.

If mozzarella isn’t your preference, or you’re looking to explore different flavor profiles, feel free to experiment with other cheeses. Crumbled feta cheese offers a delightful salty tang, creamy goat cheese can add a luscious richness, or finely shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano will provide a more intense, nutty character. For those avoiding dairy, many excellent plant-based mozzarella alternatives are now available that would work wonderfully in this dish.

For an extra layer of sweetness and a beautiful visual touch, a light drizzle of balsamic glaze over the finished salad is highly recommended. It provides a tangy-sweet counterpoint that beautifully enhances the strawberries and basil. Alternatively, a subtle white balsamic vinaigrette can offer a lighter, less intense sweetness if desired. Don’t be afraid to taste and adjust the seasonings as you go, ensuring every bite is perfectly balanced.

Beyond the Recipe: More Customization Ideas

• Add More Protein: To transform this into a more substantial main course, consider adding grilled chicken, pan-seared shrimp, crumbled goat cheese, protein-rich white beans, or chickpeas.
• Boost the Greens: Incorporate a handful of fresh arugula for a peppery kick or tender baby spinach for added nutrients and a softer texture.
• Experiment with Nuts: If pine nuts aren’t your favorite or you don’t have them, toasted walnuts or slivered almonds can be used in your homemade pesto or sprinkled over the salad for an extra layer of crunch.
• Introduce Other Vegetables: Thinly sliced red onion can add a sharp, pungent note, while roasted bell peppers offer a smoky sweetness that pairs well with the Caprese flavors.
• Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of fresh mint or finely chopped parsley can introduce additional layers of fresh herbaceousness, enhancing the overall aroma and taste.

Ultimately, summer cooking is all about embracing spontaneity and allowing the freshest ingredients to guide your culinary journey. It’s about minimal fuss, maximum flavor, and the joy of creating dishes that celebrate the season. This Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad perfectly embodies that spirit. So, gather your favorite fresh produce, don’t hesitate to improvise, and truly savor the pure, unadulterated flavors of summer with every delicious bite!

This recipe post is sponsored by Driscoll’s. Visit Driscoll’s website for more berry recipes and to enter to win the Sweetest Berry Sweepstakes at Driscolls.com. Thank you for supporting brands that I love and use in my kitchen!