Tag Archives: farro

Farro with Mushrooms and Peas

Uncategorized, , , , ,

We were pleasantly surprised how much we loved this easy farro recipe with mushrooms and peas. The side dish is creamy and packed with the flavors of fresh thyme, garlic, and a little Parmesan cheese. Think of this as a farro risotto type dish, but with far less TLC than your typical risotto requires! 

It is perfect as a vegetarian main next to some fresh salad, or serve it as a side next to your favorite protein, such as we did with loin lamb chops. You can also prepare it in advance and use as lunch for several days.

Unfamiliar with farro? It is a nutty-flavored Mediterranean grain that has been in use since the time of ancient Egypt. And not only is it chockful of good-for-you nutrition — fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants — it is also hearty, deeply satisfying, and quite versatile.

NOTES: As a vegetarian entree or main course, this recipe will serve 4. If served as a side next to your favorite protein such as salmon, chicken, pork or lamb, it can serve 5 to 6 people.

This farro recipe will keep well for 3 to 4 days, if refrigerated properly in airtight containers. When you need to warm it up, just use a skillet over medium-low heat. It helps to add a little bit of water and stir regularly till warmed through.

Farro with Mushrooms and Peas

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 8 oz. baby bella mushrooms cleaned, trimmed and sliced
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 tsp. chopped garlic
  • 1 cup pearled farro
  • 1 tsp. sweet paprika
  • 2 springs fresh thyme, leaves only
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 1/4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

Directions

  1. In a deep skillet with a lid, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add green onions, mushrooms, and peas; sauté for 3-4 minutes. Add fresh garlic and stir briefly until fragrant. Now add farro, sweet paprika, thyme, and a little salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly.
  2. Meanwhile, in a separate pot over medium-high heat, bring the broth to a boil. Add the boiling broth to the farro mixture. Bring everything to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes (or according to package directions, ours took 30 minutes) until the liquid is absorbed.
  3. Remove from heat and add grated Parmesan and fresh mint leaves. Serve warm.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Recipe by Suzy Karadsheh

Tuscan Farro Soup with White Beans and Vegetables

Uncategorized, , , , ,

So tasty and so healthy! This warm-your-belly farro soup is quite easy to make; and it’s all done in one-pot which means fewer dishes. On a busy weeknight, this may be your ticket to something healthy, nutritious and pretty hands-off. To keep it vegetarian, use vegetable stock. That was not an issue for us so we used 6 cups of homemade chicken stock.

Farro soup with white beans and vegetables is a rich, hearty, and flavorful meal. Eat it on its own, pair it with crusty garlic bread or a simple salad and dinner is served! It’s like a hug in a bowl to keep you warm on chilly nights! And that is exactly the reaction we got.

We adapted the recipe slightly by including two cans of white beans instead of one. Since baby spinach is typically packaged in a 5-ounce clamshell, we included the entire thing instead of 2 cups. A nice toasted piece of garlic bread was the perfect companion!

Missing, or not fond of, some of the ingredients? Don’t worry, here are some substitutes:

  • Farro substitutes: While farro is traditional in this soup, you can use other grains like barley, spelt, freekeh, coarse bulgur, quinoa, or brown rice. Brown rice and quinoa are good ways to turn this soup into a gluten-free-friendly meal. 
  • Add mushrooms: Cut mushrooms of your choosing into bite-sized pieces and saute them along with the carrots, onion, and celery. From there, follow the recipe as written. 
  • Instead of spinach, you can use baby kale. Kale in general is tougher than spinach, and takes more time to wilt down. Baby kale is a bit softer, but will still likely have more body than spinach, even after sitting in the broth for a while. 
  • Vegan option: Use vegetable stock and omit the parmesan rind and cheese for a vegan alternative. Without the parmesan rind, you will lose some of the nutty, rich flavor. If you want to mimic this flavor, use a little nutritional yeast. You can add 2 to 3 teaspoons right after you add the stock. It will dissolve quite quickly. 

Tuscan Farro Soup with White Beans and Vegetables

  • Servings: 4
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced
  • 1 to 2 carrots, peeled and sliced into ¼-inch thick rounds
  • 2 celery sticks, chopped
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 cups vegetable or chicken stock
  • 1 28-oz. can whole San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
  • 2 15-oz. cans white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup farro, rinsed and drained
  • 1-inch Parmesan rind
  • 5 oz. fresh baby spinach
  • 1 cup chopped parsley
  • 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • Grated Parmesan for serving

Directions

  1. In a large Dutch oven or pot, heat 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Season with a little kosher salt and cook, tossing occasionally until the vegetables have softened.
  2. Add the garlic and toss for 30 seconds or so, then add the tomatoes, stock, white beans, farro, and parmesan rind.
  3. Bring the liquid to a boil, then lower the heat watching for the steady, gentle simmer. Allow the soup to simmer until the farro is tender, about 30 minutes or so.
  4. Turn the heat off and remove the Parmesan rind (sometimes the rind will have dissolved into the soup). Stir in the spinach, parsley, and red wine vinegar.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Adapted from a recipe by Suzy Karadsheh

Warm Farro with Lemon and Herbs

Uncategorized, , , ,

For this dish, use whole farro, in which the grain’s germ and bran have been retained. It has a nutty flavor and delicately chewy texture, and some brands cook in as little as 20 minutes, making it one of the fastest-cooking whole grains. (Ours took 30 minutes.)

The simplest cooking method is best: Just boil in salted water for about 20-30 minutes until tender and drain well. Warm farro can be tossed with sautéed aromatics, olive oil and herbs for a simple but satisfying side dish such as this one. It went wonderfully with our Shawarma Chicken.

We were fresh out of mint, so in lieu of making an extra trip to the grocery store, we just substituted two tablespoons of fresh oregano, which was one of the herbs in our main chicken entrée.

Warm Farro with Lemon and Herbs

  • Servings: 6
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 1⁄2 cups whole farro
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Directions

  1. Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a Dutch oven. Add farro and 1 tablespoon salt, return to boil, and cook until grains are tender with a slight chew, 20-30 minutes. Drain farro, return to now empty pot, and cover to keep warm.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat, until shimmering. Add onion and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring frequently, until onion is softened and slightly golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
  3. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and cooked farro, stirring frequently until heated through, 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in parsley, mint, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

http://www.lynnandruss.com

Recipe from America’s Test Kitchen The Complete Mediterranean Cookbook