Pantry Staple Stetson Chopped Salad (High-Protein Version)
An accessible spin on the iconic Stetson Chopped Salad using ingredients you actually have in your pantry — grain on hand, spinach, store-bought pesto, and crunch pantry snack. Loaded with 50+ grams of protein per serving thanks to smoked salmon, hard boiled eggs, and Greek yogurt.
Ingredients
FOR THE SALAD
- ½ cup farro dry
- 2 cups fresh spinach chopped
- 1 cup Roma tomatoes diced
- 8 ounces smoked salmon diced
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ¼ cup toasted pepitas
- ¼ cup raisins
- ½ cup LOVE CORN Sea Salt Crunchy Roasted Corn snack
- 4 large hard boiled eggs
FOR THE DRESSING
- ½ cup Prepared Pesto Basil
- ⅓ cup Duke's mayo
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoon buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ shallot minced
- 1 teaspoon salt and fresh cracked pepper
Instructions
- Cook the farro: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the farro and cook for 30-35 minutes until tender but still with a slight chew. Drain, rinse with cool water, and set aside to cool completely.
- Prep the hard boiled eggs: Bring a pot of water to boil, gently add eggs, and cook for 10-12 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath, then peel and cut into quarters or halves. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the pesto, Duke's mayo, Greek yogurt, buttermilk, lemon juice, and minced shallot. Season with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Taste and adjust — you want it creamy but balanced. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Start with the spinach as your base. Layer on the farro, tomatoes, and smoked salmon. Top with a mix of parmesan, pepitas, and raisins (this is your sweet-savory trail mix). Finish with the hard boiled eggs and scatter the LOVE CORN snacks across the top.
- Drizzle generously with the pesto mayo-yogurt dressing. Toss gently or serve on the side for meal prep. The corn snacks stay crunchier if added right before eating.
Video
Notes
Notes
Why these swaps work: Farro has more texture and nutty flavor than couscous — honestly better. Spinach is milder than peppery arugula, so it lets all the other flavors shine. Store-bought pesto is a total game-changer for weeknight cooking. LOVE CORN snacks give you actual crunch (not the dusty texture of dehydrated corn). Raisins + pepitas + parmesan is the holy trinity of sweet-savory-salty. The Greek yogurt + Duke's mayo combo keeps the dressing rich while bumping up the protein. Meal prep tip: Keep the corn snacks separate and add right before eating so they stay crispy. Dressing keeps for 3-4 days. Farro can be made ahead and refrigerated. Protein breakdown: ~50g protein per serving (smoked salmon + egg + yogurt + Greek yogurt in the dressing).
Why these swaps work: Farro has more texture and nutty flavor than couscous — honestly better. Spinach is milder than peppery arugula, so it lets all the other flavors shine. Store-bought pesto is a total game-changer for weeknight cooking. LOVE CORN snacks give you actual crunch (not the dusty texture of dehydrated corn). Raisins + pepitas + parmesan is the holy trinity of sweet-savory-salty. The Greek yogurt + Duke's mayo combo keeps the dressing rich while bumping up the protein. Meal prep tip: Keep the corn snacks separate and add right before eating so they stay crispy. Dressing keeps for 3-4 days. Farro can be made ahead and refrigerated. Protein breakdown: ~50g protein per serving (smoked salmon + egg + yogurt + Greek yogurt in the dressing).