Farro Salad with Lemon Chicken

I'd like you to meet Mitus.  Mitus is NOT my horse. 🐴I don't share any of the responsibilities of caring for this beautiful animal but that doesn't stop me from adoring him.😂  Lucky for me, he lives close enough that I get to visit him regularly.  

I'm crazy about this horse and I'm fairly certain that he shares my affection because Mitus trots to the fence to greet me whenever he sees me. 🧡 I'm choosing to believe that it has nothing to do with the fact that I bring him snacks.  😅 My visits have become so frequent in fact that I've even started to buy those ridiculously giant bags of carrots from the grocery store so that I can keep a hearty supply of Mitus' favorite snack on hand.  🥕

Last week, I decided to switch things up and I brought Mitus an apple instead of his usual carrot. 🍎 I've never been a horse owner but I've always assumed that horses love apples and I thought Mitus might appreciate some variety in his treats.  🤷🏻‍♀️ Well, apparently not ALL horses love apples.  When I offered Mitus the shiny fruit, he apprehensively took it from my hand, rolled it around his mouth for a solid minute and then proceeded to spit it out on the ground - without even a single tooth mark. 😳I stared at the unblemished piece of fruit on the ground in disbelief, while this 2000 pound horse went back to munching on pasture grass.   #isthisnormal?

Maybe I need to take my dinner cue from Mitus.  More and vegetables and plants and less fruit.  😅🥗 I'm not really into eating grass but I would certainly benefit from incorporating more lettuce and veggies into my diet.  Lucky for me, I've got a garden full of lettuce and fresh herbs, just waiting for me to enjoy.  Nothing encourages me to eat more lettuce than when I can go out and pick it from my own garden.  

Farro salad with lemon chicken is great as a grain bowl and equally delicious when you serve it over mixed greens as a more traditional salad.  Either way you serve it, this is a great salad to add to your spring menu.  It's got all the elements of a great, healthy meal that's just as satisfying as it is delicious.  🥒

Farro Salad with Lemon Chicken
1 1/2 cups farro
1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon fresh oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup pepperocini
1 Tablespoon pepperocini brine
1/2 English cucumber, sliced thin
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes

Bring 2 quarts water to a boil.  Add farrow and 1 T. salt.  Return to boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes.

Drain and rinse farrow under cold water.  

Combine 1 T. oil, oregano, lemon zest, pepper and 1 t. salt.  

Rub each chicken breast with 1 t. oregano mixture. 

Grill or pan sear chicken.  Transfer to a cutting board to rest.  

Whisk together pepperocini brine, lemon juice, 1/4 c. oil and remaining oregano mixture.  Reserve 2 T.

Add cucumber, tomatoes, farro and pepperonini to remaining dressing. 

Slice chicken into 1/2" strips.

Serve chicken over farro salad, drizzling with reserved dressing. 

In case you were wondering what happened to the discarded apple - it didn't go to waste.  This hungry fella was more than happy to gobble it up.🍎 This donkey eats anything - except beets.  😂

Ciao!

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