Shaved Asparagus and Farro Salad with Spicy Herb Sauce

Enjoy asparagus at it’s peak freshness this spring by shaving it thin and eating it raw! Add in some feta, pistachios, chewy farro, jammy eggs, and a spicy herb sauce for a perfect side for your next potluck!

Tips:

  • Look for large and thick asparagus, thin asparagus is very difficult if not impossible to shave thinly.

Serves 6 as a side

Ingredients

For the spicy herb sauce

  • ½ cup rough chopped cilantro 
  • ½ cup rough chopped mint 
  • ½ jalapeno 
  • 2 cloves garlic 
  • 1 tsp sumac
  • ½ tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp salt 
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • ⅓ cup olive oil 

For the salad 

  • 3 eggs
  • ¾ cup pearled farro
  • 1 bunch thick asparagus
  • 2 cups arugula 
  • ¼ cup pistachios
  • Olive oil
  • 1 lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Feta, for topping
Instructions

First, make the spicy herb sauce

  1. Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. 

Then, prep the eggs and farro

  1. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. 
  2. Gently add the eggs and cook for 7 minutes. 
  3. While the eggs cook, prepare a bowl filled with ice water. 
  4. When the eggs are ready, remove them (don’t drain the water) and immediately place in the ice water bath. Set aside. 
  5. Return the water to a boil and add a generous amount of salt. 
  6. Add the farro to the pot and cook until tender but still a bit chewy, about 10-15 minutes for pearled farro (unpearled will take quite a bit longer). 
  7. Drain and set aside to cool. 

Then, prep and assemble the salad

  1. Cut off the tough end of the asparagus with a knife. 
  2. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the asparagus into thin ribbons. Place the ribbons in a large bowl. 
  3. Add the arugula, pistachios, and cooled farro to the bowl and toss to combine.
  4. Add enough olive oil to lightly coat all of the ingredients, along with the juice of 1 lemon, and plenty of salt and pepper to taste. 
  5. Carefully peel the eggs and cut them in half. Place on the top of the salad.
  6. Top everything with a drizzle of the spicy herb sauce and crumbled feta cheese. 
  7. Enjoy!