• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
BetterFoodGuru
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers and Dips
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Salads
    • Soups & Stews
    • Dessert
    • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Essential Links
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • About
  • Links
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Farro Tabbouleh Salad Recipe

    April 11, 2025 by Sara Tercero

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This farro tabbouleh salad is a hearty twist on a classic, with lots of fresh parsley and dill, lemon, crisp cucumbers, and sweet cherry tomatoes. The walnuts and beans offer extra plant-based protein, making it the ideal grain salad for hot summer days. It is not a traditional tabbouleh salad but if you love tabbouleh, you'll love this one, too.

    brown wood bowl of tabbouleh salad with farro, white beans, cucumber, tomatoes, fresh cilantro, parsley, onion and walnuts with herby lemon dressing next to a small serving plate of salad

    What is Farro Tabbouleh?

    Tabbouleh salad is a classic Middle Eastern dish made with bulgur wheat, lots of fresh herbs, lemon juice, fresh tomatoes, and more. It's simple, but filling and layered with bold, fresh flavors.

    This simple recipe leans on those traditional flavors while adding more protein, healthy fats, and fiber to keep you going all day.

    It's the ideal meal prep option for busy weeks and can be served as a main dish or filling side!

    Why you’ll love this Farro Tabbouleh

    • Loaded with fresh herbs and veggies
    • Contains plenty of fiber and protein to serve as a complete meal
    • Relies on very simple, fresh ingredients - nothing complicated or hard to find
    • Can easily be made with your garden produce or fresh produce from the farmers market
    • Serve it on its own or in grain bowls with kalamata olives and pita bread
    Overhead view of small glass bowls holding ingredients for vegan farro tabouleh salad including cooked farro, white cannellini beans, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, parsley, cilantro, and walnuts

    Ingredients for Farro Tabbouleh

    This is a super simple recipe that requires a short list of ingredients. Just be sure to use fresh herbs, not dried ones, and pearled farro. It's a specific type that cooks faster than other varieties, and has a nice nutty bite that really adds to this dish.

    • Pearled farro - The pearling process removes the outer bran layer. This does reduce the amount of fiber somewhat, but also makes the farro cook much faster. You can often find pearled farro at many major grocery stores and health food shops.
    • Cannellini beans - These are my go-to for almost any dish. They're mild and creamy with a neutral flavor, so you can pair them with any flavors you like.
    • Veggies - Load up on simple, fresh ingredients, like cherry tomatoes and diced cucumber, for color and texture. They're also naturally hydrating, which is great during the warm summer months.
    • Walnuts - For an added boost of healthy fats and a lovely crunch. 
    • Fresh herbs - Nothing adds quite the same fresh, aromatic flavor as fresh herbs. Parsley is a must for any type of tabbouleh, and this version also uses cilantro and green onions. 
    • Garlic, Lemon and Herb Dressing - This is a very bright, herbaceous dressing made with fresh parsley, dill, garlic, fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper. It's very simple to make and adds a refreshing brightness.

    Bonus tip: Farro is a member of the wheat family and is not gluten-free. If you need to avoid gluten, try cooked brown rice or quinoa.

    close up image of a bowl of healthy bean salad with farro, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, walnuts, parsley, dill, and cilantro tossed with lemon herb dressing

    How to Make Farro Tabbouleh

    You do need to take the time to cook the farro first, and allow it to cool. This will help keep the herbs tasting fresh and bright, as the hot farro can wilt the tender greens. The flavors in the dish are even better after it sits for a while, so consider making the whole thing the night before you need it.

    • Cook farro according to package. Rinse with cold water and drain well.
    • Make dressing in a high speed blender, by adding parsley, dill, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.
    • In a large bowl add parsley, cilantro, cooked farro, beans, tomatoes, green onions, walnuts and cucumbers. 
    • Pour dressing over the top and mix well.
    • Serve and enjoy.

    Storing Suggestions

    Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The flavors are best at room temperature, so you may want to let the salad sit on the counter for 15-30 minutes before serving.

    Large wooden brown serving bowl of vegan tabbouleh farro salad with fresh veggies including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, walnuts, and herbs coated with olive oil lemon herb salad dressing

    Tips for Making the Best Farro Tabbouleh

    • Toast the walnuts. Toasting really brings out the full flavor of the walnuts. You can either toast them in a skillet over medium low heat or bake at 350F for about 8-12 minutes. Be careful not to burn them.
    • Add the lemon zest. If you're using fresh lemons, grate the lemon zest for a major dose of flavor. 
    • Make it ahead of time. Prepping the salad the day before allows the flavors from the dressing and fresh herbs to really incorporate into the farro mixture. If possible, let the salad rest for at least an hour, if not overnight.
    close up image of a brown wooden serving bowl filled with fresh vegan farro tabbouleh including sliced cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, green onions and walnuts tossed with a tangy lemon herb dressing

    FAQs

    Can you use other herbs?

    Yes, of course. Tabbouleh is traditionally made with lots of fresh parsley, so I'd keep that as much as possible. Feel free to add some fresh mint leaves or chives, as well.

    What do you serve with farro tabbouleh?

    This recipe is really a complete meal on its own with plant-based protein, fiber, healthy fats, and lots of veggies. To make it a whole meal, feel free to serve it as a side with chickpea burgers, a vegan mezze platter, grilled veggies, and more. You can either serve it exactly as is, or served over a bed of salad greens or baby kale.

    What can you use instead of farro?

    If you aren't into farro, the closest alternative is pearled barley, brown rice, or quinoa. I like to use larger grains here to give the salad even more texture, but really, any cooked grains work. You can even use orzo for a summery pasta salad.

    Other Delicious Vegan Farro Recipes

    • Farro Mediterranean Salad with Chickpeas
    • Italian Farro & Vegetable Salad
    • Farro Rainbow Mediterranean Salad
    • White Bean and Farro Salad
    • Easy Summer Farro Salad with Grilled Peaches
    logo for better food guru vegan food blog.

    Love this recipe? Drop a comment below to share your experience with others!

    Craving more? Explore all of my free ebooks or come hang out with over 1 million other plant-based foodies on Instagram!



    brown wood bowl of tabbouleh salad with farro, white beans, cucumber, tomatoes, fresh cilantro, parsley, onion and walnuts with herby lemon dressing next to a small serving plate of salad

    Farro Tabbouleh Salad Recipe

    This farro tabbouleh salad is a hearty twist on a classic, with lots of fresh parsley and dill, lemon, crisp cucumbers, and sweet cherry tomatoes. The walnuts and beans offer extra plant-based protein, making it the ideal grain salad for hot summer days. It is not a traditional tabbouleh salad but if you love tabbouleh, you'll love this one, too.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine Middle Eastern
    Servings 5 servings
    Calories 565 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 oz pearled farro
    • 1 cup parsley leaves coarsely chopped
    • ½ cup cilantro leaves and stems, coarsely chopped
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
    • 15 oz can of cannellini beans rinsed and drained
    • 1 cucumber chopped small
    • ½ cup green onion green and white parts chopped
    • ½ cup walnuts chopped

    For Dressing:

    • ½ cup fresh parsley leaves only
    • ½ cup fresh dill feathery leaves only
    • 2 cloves garlic
    • 2 large lemons juiced
    • ½ cup olive oil
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 4 grinds fresh black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Cook farro according to package. Rinse with cold water and drain well.
    • Make dressing in a high speed blender, by adding parsley, dill, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth
    • In a large bowl add parsley, cilantro, cooked farro, beans, tomatoes, green onions, walnuts and cucumbers.
    • Pour dressing over the top and mix well.
    • Enjoy within 3-4 days for best results.

    Notes

    Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The flavors are best at room temperature, so you may want to let the salad sit on the counter for 15-30 minutes before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 565kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 15gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gSodium: 146mgPotassium: 957mgFiber: 15gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 2302IUVitamin C: 62mgCalcium: 159mgIron: 6mg
    Keyword farro tabbouleh, vegan tabbouleh salad, vegan tabouli
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    « Kale Pasta Salad with White Beans + Citrus Mint Dressing
    Summer Nectarine Cantaloupe Salad with Corn »

    Primary Sidebar

    About BetterFoodGuru

    image Sara Tercero

    Hi, I am Sara Tercero, the Chef behind BetterFoodGuru. It is my mission to prove that plants are delicious and to help others cook and eat their way to health and happiness. My recipes are inspired by global flavors and my love for eating the rainbow. Reach out on social media or leave a review with feedback!

    Categories

    Check Out These Recipes

    collage image of different cold vegan salad recipes that reads "no cook salads" with images of strawberry feta salad, watermelon salad, cucumber salad, street corn slaw, and more.

    Beat the Heat: 25 No Cook Salads for Easy Summer Meals

    collage image of cooling vegan summer salads like cucumber salads, fruit salsa, tomato salad, and more.

    27 Refreshing Vegan Summer Salads to Keep You Cool

    collage image of different vegan bbq salads like pasta salad, potato salad, kale salad, slaws, and more, all to take to summer BBQs.

    25+ Summery Vegan Salads to Bring to Your Next BBQ

    Copyright © 2025 Better Food Guru | Privacy Policy

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Manage consent

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience

    Advertising.


    This Site is affiliated with CMI Marketing, Inc., d/b/a Raptive (“Raptive”) for the purposes of placing advertising on the Site, and Raptive will collect and use certain data for advertising purposes. To learn more about Raptive’s data usage, click here: https://raptive.com/creator-advertising-privacy-statement/

     
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
    CookieDurationDescription
    cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
    cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
    cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
    viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
    Functional
    Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
    Performance
    Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
    Analytics
    Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
    Advertisement
    Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
    Others
    Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
    SAVE & ACCEPT