Looking for a versatile recipe that’s great as a filling side dish, lunch, or pitch in food? Welcome to our favorite Anytime Grain Salad! This basic idea works with any whole grain and in any season. Mix up the vegetables based on what you have on hand, and you can make loads of variations. The best part? It’s so hearty and filling, great as a side dish for a vegetarian meal or perfect for lunches. Here’s how to use this template for a great grain salad!
What’s in a grain salad?
A grain salad is any salad made with a whole grain, vegetables, and a dressing. Any type of whole grain or seed can be used, like quinoa, farro, bulgur wheat, millet, rice, wild rice, freekah, or barley. Mix the whole grain with any mix of vegetables and a simple dressing, and you’ve got a grain salad! Adding a protein rounds out the salad and helps to make it filling. Use it as a side dish, lunch, for potlucks, picnics and more.
Elements in this grain salad
This grain salad uses the farro, an ancient whole grain with a chewy texture and nutty flavor. But you can use any grain you like! It combines it with a colorful mix of vegetables, herbs, and a Mediterranean-style dressing. Here’s what you’ll need, then keep reading for some notes on swapping out ingredients and flavors to customize to your tastes:
Farro or any cooked grain, like quinoa, rice, wild rice, millet, bulgur wheat, or barleyShallotGarlicCherry tomatoesCremini mushroomsCarrotFresh herbsBaby arugulaCheese (like Manchego, smoked gouda, aged cheddar, feta crumbles, or shaved Parmesan)For the dressing: lemon juice, Dijon mustard, olive oil and dried oregano
Ways to customize it!
You can substitute in different vegetables of your choosing in this grain salad! Swap out ingredients and it works for different seasons. Here are some ideas:
Use apples instead of cherry tomatoes and omit the garlic for a fall or winter saladUse bell pepper instead of tomato Add zucchini or summer squash in the cummerAdd crunchy cucumberAdd roasted sweet potatoes or butternut squash for a wintery spinOmit the mushrooms if desiredAdd nuts like toasted sliced almonds or pine nuts
What other ideas do you have for customizing this salad? Let us know in the comments below!
More variations
Here are a few more variation on a grain salad that we love:
Quinoa salad: Try our Go-To Quinoa Salad! This grain salad is summery and even more Mediterranean-inspired. It features crunchy veggies like cucumber, bell pepper and cherry tomato, along with Tuscan kale and feta crumbles. Barley salad: This Barley Salad with Lemon is also Mediterranean-inspired: it’s quick and easy to put together and irresistibly good.
A few other ideas for flavor combinations? Try our Greek Orzo Salad or Couscous Salad. They’re not made with whole grains, but the concept is similar.
More salad recipes
We love salads! Here are few more great salad recipes we know you’ll love:
Try our 50 Best Salad RecipesGo for Favorite Chopped Salad or Kale Salad with LemonOpt for Couscous Salad or Go-To Quinoa SaladTry Green Bean Salad or Romaine Lettuce Salad with Green Goddess
This grain salad recipe is…
Vegetarian. For vegan, plant-based and dairy-free, omit the cheese. 5 from 1 review
