Carrot and Farro Salad with Apricot Dressing

Carrots have a unique sweetness and that’s especially true in winter. The dried apricot dressing pairs very well with the sweetness of the carrots, the earthy flavor of farro, the crunch of red onion, and the bitterness of parsley.

Ingredients

For the Dressing
2 Tablespoons (30 ml) extra virgin olive oil, optional
½ teaspoon kosher salt, optional
⅓ cup (80 ml) white balsamic vinegar
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup (240 ml) water
½ cup (100 g) dried apricots
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon kosher salt, optional
For the Salad
1 lb (680 g) carrots, cut into evenly-sized chunks
2 cups (310 g) farro
1 cup (105 g) red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup (10 g) fresh parsley leaves, roughly chopped
For the Whipped Ricotta
8 ounces (226 g) ricotta salata
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup (60 ml) extra virgin olive oil
½ cup (120 ml) water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Toss the carrots with olive oil and salt. Arrange on a non-stick sheet tray and place into preheated oven. Roast for 25 – 35 minutes or until tender. Remove from the oven and cool.
For the dressing, place the vinegar, Dijon mustard, water, dried apricots, chili flakes, and salt into the Vitamix Immersion Blend Jar or similar container. Submerge the immersion blender below the surface of the liquid, or as close to the ingredients as possible. Start the blender on its lowest speed, then quickly increase to its highest speed. Blend while moving the immersion blender around for approximately 45 – 60 seconds.
Place the carrots, onion, farro, and parsley into a medium size bowl. Toss with 3/4 cup (120ml) of the apricot dressing.
To make the whipped ricotta, mix the water and the oil together in a small measuring cup. Set aside. Fit the Food Processor with the Multi-Use Blade. Place the ricotta and into the container and secure the lid.
Start the machine and process for 10 seconds, and then slowly start drizzling olive oil into the emulsification hole on the lid of the processor. Allow to run for an additional 1 – 2 minutes until ricotta is light and fluffy.

Notes

We paired this with whipped feta for a more composed dish, but the carrot salad can be made and eaten all by itself. For extra flavor, throw a little cumin seed in while cooking your farro. The dressing doubles as a great marinade for vegetables or chicken. Roasting chicken with it adds an almost BBQ flavor. Roasting the carrots in this delicious recipe actually increases it's beta-carotene levels!

Nutrition

1 serving (245g)

Calories: 310
Total Fat: 17g
Total Carbohydrate: 33g
- Dietary Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 13g
Protein: 9g
Cholesterol: 25mg
Sodium: 570mg