Winter Farro Burrata Salad

This December, I wanted to do something fun for you this holiday season that not only keeps you eating good, but feeling good too.

So, I created a Fiber Advent Calendar that you can download and follow for the next 25 days…

My goal with this is to have you try to incorporate a different source of fiber each day. From fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and grains — this is your ultimate way to learn that eating different sources of fiber each day is possible AND easy.

Each day of the month I’ll also be posting a recipe on my social media using the fiber source of the day. This way you can see how your favorite gut health RD would actually use these ingredients in real life — simple, flavorful, and totally doable even during the busiest time of year.

My hope is that by the end of these 25 days, you’ll not only hit your fiber goals without overthinking it, but you’ll also feel more confident, creative, and inspired in the kitchen.

Whether you’re trying to support digestion, balance blood sugar, stay fuller longer, or just feel GOOD in your body through the holidays, this Fiber Advent Calendar is going to be your daily dose of nourishment, but in a festive way. Did I mention that most of the fiber sources I chose are seasonal to the month of December?

*A reminder: When you eat foods that are naturally in season, they are not only going to be fresher and tastier, but more nutritious than if they weren’t in season. We want to eat foods that aren’t traveling too long to get to us, that’s how they lose their taste and freshness. Studies show that produce picked at their peak of ripeness are going to contain more nutrients when allowed to ripen on their parent plant.

So grab your download, follow along on socials, Instagram and TikTok -- and let’s make this December the month you prioritize your gut — one delicious, fiber-filled day at a time.

Recipe #17: Winter Farro Burrata Salad

Every time I think I've made my favorite salad, I one up myself. This is my Winter Farro Burrata Salad, and it's the perfect salad for the holiday season -- I mean it's literally red, green, and white (the colors of Christmas!). I wanted to make a salad with farro, since that is the fiber source of the day, but I also was craving a salad that reminded me of my Christmas Eve trips to the Italian deli market in the North End of Boston. We would go to La Salumeria Italiana and grab different cured meats, olives, roasted red peppers, cheese to use for charcuterie boards. So, I thought to myself -- why not make a salad that gave that similar energy? I combined farro (for a good source of fiber), with all of those brine-y flavors -- burrata, roasted red peppers, Castelvetrano olives. It's easy to make, but delicious to serve at your next holiday dinner.

Portion: 4 people

Prep time: 25 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

This recipe is vegetarian.

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Ingredients:

Arugula

3 handfuls arugula

Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Squeeze of lemon

Pinch of salt

1 cup cooked farro

4.4 oz burrata (or stracciatella)

3 roasted red peppers, thinly sliced (Mezzata is what I use)

1/4 - ⅓ cup Castelvetrano olives, halved (Mezzata is what I use)

1 pear, sliced thinly

Dressing:

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

1 tsp (or more) dijon mustard

Salt to taste

Lemon pepper to taste

Garnish:

Fresh parsley, finely chopped

2 tbsp crushed walnuts

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Instructions:

1. Cook farro: Rinse farro under cold water to remove excess starch. Bring liquid to a boil in a medium pot. Add farro and salt, reduce to a simmer. Cook uncovered until tender but chewy. Drain excess liquid if needed. Allow farro to rest for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork.

2. Prep produce: have inside of burrata removed (stracciatella), the roasted red peppers thinly sliced, the olives halved, the pear sliced thinly.

3. Assemble salad: add arugula to the plate. Massage with olive oil, lemon, and salt. Layer on farro, burrata, red peppers, olives, and pear slices. Garnish with walnuts and fresh parsley.

4. Create dressing: mix ingredients together in a bowl and pour onto salad. Mix salad and taste test and adjust for salt. Enjoy!

I hope you love this recipe as much as I did, so if you do, please leave me a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I always read through my suggestions and comments, so please let me know your thoughts. If you have any questions you can feel free to DM me here or through Instagram. Speaking of Instagram - please tag me in all of your creations! I love seeing how the recipes come out and seeing how talented you all are. Sending my love.

xoxo,

Jasmin D the RD