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Farro is the original wheat, one of the first cereals domesticated in the Fertile Crescent. It nurtured the population of the Mediterranean and Middle East for thousands of years.
It was cultivated by the ancient Egyptians; it became the staple ration of the Roman Legions; it was ground to create the original polenta.
It has a mildly nutty flavor; a firm, chewy texture; and is lighter in body than traditional grains such as rice and barley.
Like arborio rice, farro releases a creamy liquid similar when cooked and can be used to make a [chewier] risotto.
Because it was harder to grow and produced lower yields, farro, an unhybridized form of wheat, took a back seat to higher-yielding hybrids.
WHY IS FARRO OF INTEREST AFTER ALL THIS TIME?
Gourmet restaurants saved the farro crop—or rather, it was saved by the farmers of the French Haute Savoie region, who brought their product to the chefs.
Always seeking something new to please their clientele, chefs embraced farro in soups, stews and sides.
Their foodie clients wanted more, and the health-conscious discovered the nutrition of this whole grain.
Today, you can find it at good supermarkets, specialty food stores and health food stores.
And farro is more nutritious than modern wheat:
A whole grain, farro is high in fiber content.
Other nutrients include magnesium and vitamins A, B, C and E.
It can be tolerated by lightly wheat-sensitive people because it has less gluten, and the form of gluten is more easily digested (check with your healthcare provider).
It has slightly more protein than modern wheat: 7 grams per 1/4 cup uncooked farro.
It cooks like most other grains.
Farro cooks like rice, barley and other grains: Rinse, add to a pot with water or stock, bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes (if you don’t pre-soak).
If you soak it overnight, cooking time can be as short as 20 minutes.
See below for many ways to use farro in your daily cooking, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Our featured recipe, Mediterranean Farro Bowl With Vegetables & Feta, follows, as does the history of farro.
FOOD 101: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPELT & FARRO
It’s easy to confuse farrow and spelt. Farro looks rather like spelt, another early species of wheat; but they are not the same.
Farro is emmer wheat, the original wheat. The botanical name for both farro and emmer wheat is Triticum dicoccum. Spelt is Triticum spelta; the most common modern wheat is we eat is Triticum aestivum.
Farro must be soaked (except for quick-cook brands), whereas spelt can be cooked directly from the package.
Cooked farro is firm and chewy; spelt is soft and becomes mushy when overcooked.
But note:
To be sure you’re getting whole grain farro, look for “whole” or “whole grain” on the label.
“Pearled” or semi-pearled farro, which is quicker cooking, is not whole grain and lacks the fiber and nutrition from the germ and bran of whole grains.
Pearling removes the inedible hull that surrounds the grain, but the process also scours off part (semi-pearled) or all (pearled) of the nutritious germ and bran. Whole-grain farro is hulled using a gentler process that leaves the germ and bran intact.
RECIPE #1: MEDITERRANEAN SALAD BOWL WITH FARRO & VEGETABLES
This recipe combines roasted eggplant, peppers and cherry tomatoes with farro and a red wine vinaigrette.
It’s a perfect blend of tart and savory flavors. Loaded with fiber and protein, it’s a healthy lunch, an appetizer or a side dish.
For those who prefer organic ingredients, DeLallo sells organic farro.
Ingredients For 8 Appetizer Servings
1 cup farro, uncooked
1 (12-ounce) jar DeLallo Roasted Red Peppers, drained and chopped
1 small eggplant, diced into ½” chunks
1 small onion, cut into chunks
1-pound cherry tomatoes
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
Garnish: fresh mint, chopped
Garnish: 4 ounces feta Cheese, crumbled
For The Dressing
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of salt and pepper
Preparation
1. HEAT the oven to 425°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. COOK the farro according to package instructions. Set aside to cool, and place in large bowl. Meanwhile…
3. TOSS the eggplant and onion with 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and place on one baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until the eggplant is soft and golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool.
4. TOSS the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and place on the second baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until the tomatoes are blistered. Remove from the oven and cool.
5. MAKE the dressing: Whisk together the feta, vinegar, mustard, oregano, salt and pepper. Once combined, continue to whisk in the oil in a slow and steady stream until the dressing emulsifies.
6. ADD the roasted vegetables and peppers to the farro. Drizzle the dressing over the mixture and toss well to combine. Garnish with mint and feta and serve.
WAYS TO SERVE FARRO
Today’s demands for better foods are bringing back some of the oldies, like farro. You can find:
Bob’s Red Mill Organic Farro at Whole Foods.
10 Minute Farro at Trader Joe’s (see note below re pearled farro).
Fargo adds heft and, mouth feel and “chew” to recipes, or as a standalone side. You can serve it hot or cold, as a substitute for rice, quinoa, pasta, or other grain or starch.
Farro has a nutty flavor and chewy texture, similar to barley.
It can be added to any soup or stew.
It can be substituted for rice salad or pasta salad.
When used to make pasta, it is more flavorful (and nutritious) than durum wheat.
Farro For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Breakfast: Use farro in place of your morning oatmeal. Top it with apples, maple syrup and cinnamon.
Leftovers: Add any type of leftovers to farro to create a new side or salad, as we did in the photo above.
Lunch Salad or Side: Combine cooked farro with olive oil, tomatoes, feta and olives for a Mediterranean-inspired salad. Or try this delicious farro and beet salad recipe.
Rice Substitute: Cook and serve as you would serve rice.
Soups & Stews: Use farro in soups and stews for a heartier, earthier flavor.
Soup Meal: Cook farro with vegetable or chicken stock and your favorite vegetables for a warming and delicious light meal.
THE HISTORY OF FARRO
An unhybridized ancestor of modern wheat, farro was one of the first grains cultivated by man in the Fertile Crescent, also known as The Cradle Of Civilization.
Here’s more on the earliest cultivated crops.
Farro was a mainstay of the daily diet in ancient Rome, and it sustained the Roman legions as they conquered Europe. It was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times.
So Why Did Farrow “Go Away?”
Because the yields aren’t as high as with other wheat species.
Over the millennia, the tastier and more nutritious strains of many crops were abandoned in favor of strains and hybrids that produced greater yields and were less resistant to weather fluctuations, diseases and pests.
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[1] Mediterranean Salad With Farro & Feta. The recipe is below (photos #1, #2 and #3 © DeLallo).
[2] A top view of the Mediterranean Salad With Farro & Feta.
[3] Another nutritious, delicious farro salad: Greek Goddess Farro Bowl.
[4] Farro as a side dish (photo © Denio Rigacci | Dreamstime).
[5] Roasted farro. You can get this top-of-the-line farro from Anson Mills. They also grow the more rare farro piccolo. (photo © Anson Mills).
[6] Roast pork with cherry sauce on farro (photo © Good Eggs).
[7] Roast lamb on farro with porcini mushrooms, grilled baby summer squash and melted brie (photo © Ray’s Boathouse | Seattle).
[8] Fancy farro: with rare roasted lamb and foie gras (photo © Chef Adrianne’s Vineyard Restaurant and Bar | Miami).
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