Economic Grain Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
A refreshing, wallet-friendly salad featuring affordable grains and a simple dressing that transforms basic ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish. This mediterranean-inspired salads ready in about 45 minutes pairs farro, cucumber, cherry tomatoes into a side that holds its own next to almost any main — bright, balanced, and quick enough to slot into a weeknight plate. Each serving lands at about 310 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly next to roasted proteins, grain bowls, or weeknight mains. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup farro
- 1/2 cup cucumber
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup red onion
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 1 lemon
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook 1 cup farro in 2 cups of water for 25-30 minutes until tender but chewy, then drain and let cool completely.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp tahini, juice of 1 lemon, 1 tsp honey, 1/2 tsp ground cumin, and 1 tbsp water until smooth and creamy.
- Step 3: Dice 1/2 cup cucumber into 1/2-inch cubes, halve 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, and finely chop 1/4 cup red onion.
- Step 4: In a large bowl, combine cooled farro, diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, and chopped red onion.
- Step 5: Pour 3/4 of the tahini dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Step 6: Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and serve at room temperature.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Economic Grain Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing take to make?
Total time is about 45 minutes (20 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Economic Grain Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep farro from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Economic Grain Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Economic Grain Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Economic Grain Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing?
Mediterranean salads like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
My family liked it. I personally would prefer more depth of flavor.
- ★★★★☆
Tasty recipe. I'd add a bit more seasoning next time.
