Farro combines with black beans, corn and avocado for bursts of textures and color in an easy side dish recipe, Chili Lime Black Bean Farro Salad. A chili lime vinaigrette flavors this farro salad with zesty lime and the slightest hint of chili powder heat.
Black Bean Corn Farro Salad, with chili lime vinaigrette, avocado, black beans and fresh corn, is the perfect side dish for dinner tonight.
Make this easy side dish with fresh corn for a hearty and delicious farro summer salad that will go with your favorite dinner.
Jump to:
Black Bean Salad Recipe
Fresh corn on the cob is abundant this time of year and that makes me so very happy! I grill it, serve it with flavored butters, and serve it right off the cob in a refreshing summertime salad.
Combined with the creamy goodness of an avocado and the nutritious protein of black beans, Chili Lime Black Bean Avocado Farro Salad will be the perfect addition to your alfresco table.
The combined textures of farro and black beans along with crispy corn make this salad delightful.
A chili lime vinaigrette flavors this farro salad with zesty lime and the slightest hint of chili powder heat.
Our farro corn salad will surely be the new favorite side dish this summer! Move over quinoa, there’s a new kid on the block!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Be sure to visit the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's personal kitchen recommendations!
Hungry for more? Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter for my latest recipes.
Farro FAQ’s
What is farro?
Farro is:
- an ancient grain that has been around for thousands of years
- now a trendy wheat grain
- packed with nutrition
- a great alternative to quinoa
What does farro taste like?
Farro has a mild nutty taste making it perfect for salads. This delicious grain also has a chewy texture.
Is farro healthy for you?
Yes, farro is a healthy grain. Farro is an excellent source of:
- B vitamins
- fiber
- iron
- magnesium
- protein
- zinc
Farro substitutes
Farro has a chewy texture and a nutty flavor. You can easily use the following as farro substitutes when making this recipe:
- Barley - Barley has a similar texture and nutty flavor. You can substitute it for farro in a 1:1 ratio but hulled barley will take longer to cook than pearl barley
- Wheat berries - Wheat berries have a chewy texture and mild nutty flavor. They can be substituted 1:1 for farro however they will have a longer cooking time.
- Spelt - Spelt has a chewy texture and a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. Spelt can be used in a 1 to 1 ratio for farro and has a longer cooking time.
- Brown rice - Brown rice has a chewy texture and a mild nutty flavor. It can also be subbed on a 1:1 ratio for farro and will have a longer cooking time than farro.
- Quinoa - Quinoa is a good alternative for farro if you are looking for a gluten-free substitute. Quinoa is not as chewy as farro but still will work well as an alternative using a 1:1 ratio with a shorter cooking time.
How to make farro salad
This is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below
- In serving bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, lime zest, chili powder, kosher salt and pepper until blended.
- Add cooked farro, corn, black beans, avocado, onion and cilantro, stirring until evenly coated. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
Recipe Tips
- Make a farro bowl! Place the farro salad in a bowl and top it with sliced chicken, beef or cooked shrimp. Add tomatoes and shredded cheese and you will have a delicious main dish farro bowl.
- You can make this side dish recipe ahead and toss with the dressing right before serving.
- Feeding a crowd? just double the recipe to make
Substitutions
- There are several farro substitutions, such as barley, spelt, wheat berries, quinoa and brown rice. Farro substitutes are described in the FAQ section, just scroll down for more information.
- Canned corn or frozen corn, thawed, can be used in place of the fresh corn on the cob.
- Sweet onion or yellow onion are both good replacements for red onion.
- Use your favorite beans in place of the black beans.
Have you checked out my Ultimate Guide To Making Homemade Salad Dressings? Making a Homemade Salad Dressing is so easy and takes just minutes. Made with simple real food ingredients, your salad dressing from scratch is not just better than store bought, it’s better for you and oh so delicious too!
This recipe is featured on the Honest Cooking website.
Ingredients
ingredients to make farro salad:
- olive oil
- lime
- apple cider vinegar
- chili powder
- kosher salt
- pepper
- farro
- black beans
- corn on the cob
- avocado
- red onion
- cilantro
Easy Side Dish Recipes
Make our Pesto Pasta Salad and toss pasta with pesto, tomatoes, bocconcini and Parmesan, just 5 ingredients, for a bowl full of fresh summertime flavors!
Pesto Tomato Salad is an easy 4 ingredient recipe that will be the star on your table. Garden fresh tomatoes and red onion are tossed in a homemade pesto transforming juicy tomatoes into a recipe that’s bursting with fresh flavor and summertime goodness.
Jalapeno Lime Summer Fruit Salad , an easy fruit salad recipe that’s bursting with sweet juicy berries and watermelon, fresh mint, zesty lime and a hint of jalapeno heat, is a refreshing addition to your summer menu!
Panzanella, the classic Tuscan bread salad, is bursting with heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella and fresh basil, the flavors and colors of summer! Our Panzanella is an easy recipe for a mouthwatering bread salad that’s a perfect side dish on a warm summer evening.
Chili Lime Black Bean Farro Salad Recipe
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup farro , cooked according to package directions, drained and cooled*
- 1 can (15 ounces) black beans , drained and rinsed
- 2 corn on the cob , kernels only, 1 1/2 cups or 1 can (15.25 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
- 1 avocado , pitted, peeled and chopped, 1 1/2 cups
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
I earn a commission from Instacart from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
- In serving bowl combine olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, lime zest, chili powder, kosher salt and pepper until blended.
- Add cooked farro, corn, black beans, avocado, onion and cilantro, stirring until evenly coated. Serve at room temperature or chilled.
I made this last night, and although I had to tweak the recipe a bit because I lacked some of the ingredients, it was very tasty!
Hi Sheila! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know and for being a Swirls' follower. I truly appreciate it! Savor the Moments, Gwynn
I just made this and it is wonderful.
Hi Kathy, I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. It is one of my favorites! Thanks so much for the 5 star rating and for stopping by Swirls. I truly appreciate you being here. Happy Cooking, GG
Did you use a cup of cooked farro? Or a cup dry?
Thanks! Excited to try!
Hi Karri, it is one cup dry farro that you cook according to the package directions. Enjoy and happy cooking, Gwynn
We just made this for dinner and it was absolutely fantastic! So hearty and that dressing is just amazing! Thank you for this!
Happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe!
I used barley instead of Farro. My mom is one of the soap people, so I switched it to parsley.its delicious .
I'm so happy that you enjoyed the recipe! And oh, that soapy cilantro gene, it's something else! Parsley is the perfect substitute.
That sounds wonderful Julie! Happy cooking, Gwynn