What is Farro? (and How to Cook it!)

Farro is an ancient grain perfect in salads or as a side dish. It tastes a little bit like brown rice or barley and it’s good for you!

Nowadays, there are so many new (or new to us!) and interesting nuts, and grains, and seeds to try! At SWP, we love to share our new favorite finds and we think you’ll love learning about this chewy little grain if you haven’t had it before!

Farro is a simple, but hearty country grain that means “wheat” in Italian, but it is still relatively new in the west.

It is shaped like pearl barley and is a member of the wheat family, so it is not gluten-free.

It’s Healthy

This nutrient powerhouse (aka Emmer wheat, Einkorn or even Spelt depending on the variety) is packed with protein and high in fiber.

Because it’s dense and chewy, farro stays firm in soups and stews, but it’s also a great compliment to salads (or can the star of a farro salad itself)! If you are familiar with barley, then you can use farro in the same recipes. It’s fun to try new things and we think you’ll like experimenting with farro! You can find more info on this grain here.

How to Cook Farro

Stovetop:

1. Cover farro with 2” of water (or broth) and a dash of salt in a saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer, about 20 minutes or until the farro is tender. (Check your package, some brands need extra time depending on how it has been processed).
3. Drain and serve hot or cold.

Instant Pot:

1. Cook farro, water (or broth), and a dash of salt in an Instant Pot on high for 10 minutes.
2. Let it naturally release for about 5 minutes.
3. Stir and serve hot or cold.

Rice Cooker:

1. Rinse farro and add 3 cups of water (or broth) to the rice cooker.
2. Cook for 45 minutes.
3. Stir and serve hot or cold.

What to Make with Farro?

Don’t be put off by farro’s exotic name, it’s easy to cook and is budget-friendly! Try it in place of barley in mushroom barley soup, beef barley soup, or vegetable barley soup.

Can You Freeze Farro?

The best way to freeze farro for future recipes is to cook it and spread it out on a sheet pan and freeze. Place the grains in a zippered bag with the date labeled on the outside. Freezing the grains on the sheet pan keeps them from freezing in a big lump!

Farro

Farro is an ancient grain; a perfect substitution for any recipe that calls for barley or rice!

Course How To

Cuisine American, Italian

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 176

Author Holly Nilsson

Ingredients

• 8 cups water or broth
• 1 cup farro
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• Rinse farro well.
• Bring a pot of water with salt to a boil and add rinsed farro.
• Bring to a boil again then reduce to medium heat and cook uncovered until soft, about 30 minutes. Strain well.

Notes

Be sure to check your package, some brands need extra time depending on how it has been processed.

Instant Pot:

1. Cook farro, water (or broth), and a dash of salt in an Instant Pot on high for 10 minutes.
2. Let it naturally release for about 5 minutes.
3. Stir and serve hot or cold.

Rice Cooker:

1. Rinse farro and add 3 cups of water (or broth) to the rice cooker.
2. Cook for 45 minutes.
3. Stir and serve hot or cold.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 176 | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 610mg | Potassium: 140mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

from Spend With Pennies https://ift.tt/39fIgdE
via Spend With Pennies - Easy Recipes, Home Tips, Time Savers and More!