How should I store Make-Ahead Cabbage Salad?

Put the salad in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. We like how the flavors meld together as the salad sits in the fridge, but if you prefer a crunchier salad store the dressing separately.

What is pearled farro, and where can I find it?

This quick-cooking farro has had the outer layer of bran stripped from it. It’s the most common variety of farro, and you can find it in the bulk bins of some grocery stores or in the aisle with the baking ingredients or cereals.

What should I serve with Make-Ahead Cabbage Salad?

This cabbage salad pairs exceptionally well with vegetarian dishes like veggie burgers , tofu satay or Air-Fryer Tofu . And it is perfect with beef, chicken or seafood. Try it with our Smoky Slow-Cooker BBQ Brisket Sandwiches , Air-Fryer "Fried" Chicken Thighs or Crispy Cod Sandwich .

Keeps-Getting-Better Salad

Name: This Make-Ahead Cabbage Salad Keeps Getting Better with Time
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1½ cups Italian pearled farro; 3 cups water; 6 cups shredded green cabbage; 4 cups broccoli florets (1½-inch; about 1 medium head); 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed; 1 cup crumbled feta cheese; ½ cup chopped pitted Castelvetrano olives; ½ cup loosely packed chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish; ¼ cup chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish; 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil; ½ cup coarsely chopped unsalted raw almonds; 8 small cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons); 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon salt; ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper; 6 tablespoons rice vinegar

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

50 mins

Servings:

6

Nutrition Profile:

No Added Sugar Anti-Inflammatory Sesame-Free Healthy Pregnancy Soy-Free High-Fiber Vegetarian High-Protein Egg-Free Gut Healthy Mediterranean Diet

Jump to Nutrition Facts

This isn’t your typical salad—our Make-Ahead Cabbage Salad is designed to keep getting better every day, which makes it a great choice for your weekly meal prep. Dripping with vibrant flavors from feta cheese, olives and dill, this salad is anything but bland. The chewiness from the farro pairs expertly with the crunch from the fiber-packed veggies and almonds for a chopped salad vibe. Read below for our expert tips, including how to infuse olive oil with flavor.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

Heating the oil to toast the almonds and garlic serves a dual purpose. It infuses the oil with the rich flavors of almonds and garlic and also works to tenderize and soften the vegetables.
You can thinly slice the cabbage or use the largest holes on a box grater to shred it.
This is a customizable salad, so feel free to add in your favorite hearty vegetables (avoid watery ones like squash or tomatoes), nuts, unsalted canned beans or cheese.

Nutrition Notes

Cabbage is the star of this salad for its crunch and as a source of vitamin C, which is essential for your skin health.
Farro is a good source of fiber for digestive health and contains magnesium to support healthy blood pressure.
Broccoli contains compounds called glucosinolates, which are considered anticancer nutrients, and they add to the gut-friendly fiber and immune system–boosting vitamin C content of this recipe.
Chickpeas add plant-based protein to this salad to help make it a complete and hearty meal.

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Ingredients

1½ cups pearled farro
3 cups water
6 cups shredded green cabbage
4 cups broccoli florets (1½-inch; about 1 medium head)
1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added chickpeas, rinsed
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
½ cup chopped pitted Castelvetrano olives
½ cup loosely packed chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
¼ cup chopped fresh dill, plus more for garnish
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup coarsely chopped unsalted raw almonds
8 small cloves garlic, thinly sliced (about 2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper
6 tablespoons rice vinegar

Directions

Place 1½ cups farro in a dry medium saucepan; cook over medium-high heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until very fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 3 cups water; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water until cool, about 1 minute. Transfer the cooled farro to a large bowl. Add 6 cups cabbage, 4 cups broccoli, 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, 1 cup feta, ½ cup olives, ½ cup parsley and ¼ cup dill.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood, Food Stylist: Sally McKay
Wipe the saucepan clean. Add 1 cup oil; heat over medium heat until shimmering. Add ½ cup almonds; cook, stirring often, until lightly toasted, 2 to 3 minutes. Add sliced garlic, 1 teaspoon each cumin and salt and ¾ teaspoon crushed red pepper; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Immediately pour over the vegetable mixture in the bowl. Add 6 tablespoons vinegar; gently toss to combine. Garnish with additional parsley and dill, if desired.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood, Food Stylist: Sally McKay

To make ahead

Cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store Make-Ahead Cabbage Salad?

Put the salad in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. We like how the flavors meld together as the salad sits in the fridge, but if you prefer a crunchier salad store the dressing separately.
What is pearled farro, and where can I find it?

This quick-cooking farro has had the outer layer of bran stripped from it. It’s the most common variety of farro, and you can find it in the bulk bins of some grocery stores or in the aisle with the baking ingredients or cereals.
What should I serve with Make-Ahead Cabbage Salad?

This cabbage salad pairs exceptionally well with vegetarian dishes like veggie burgers, tofu satay or Air-Fryer Tofu. And it is perfect with beef, chicken or seafood. Try it with our Smoky Slow-Cooker BBQ Brisket Sandwiches, Air-Fryer "Fried" Chicken Thighs or Crispy Cod Sandwich.

EatingWell.com, October 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

785	Calories
51g	Fat
69g	Carbs
21g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size about 2⅓ cups
Calories 785
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 69g	25%
Dietary Fiber 16g	55%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 21g	42%
Total Fat 51g	66%
Saturated Fat 10g	48%
Cholesterol 22mg	7%
Vitamin A 87Âµg
Vitamin C 91mg	102%
Vitamin D 0Âµg
Vitamin E 9mg	61%
Folate 163Âµg
Vitamin K 228Âµg
Sodium 797mg	35%
Calcium 284mg	22%
Iron 6mg	35%
Magnesium 157mg	37%
Potassium 827mg	18%
Zinc 4mg	40%
Vitamin B12 0Âµg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by

Sarah Pflugradt, Ph.D., RDN, CSCS