I have enjoyed farro at restaurants and liked the texture and the flavor. A bit of al dente to the bite and a nutty flavor added.
I purchased some with my last grocery shopping expedition, and here is a fantastic side dish or main dish. Healthy recipe, vegetarian, and super delicious.
What is farro?
Farro is the Italian name for an ancient type of grain in the wheat family. As well as spelt and emmer.
Therefore, the most commonly found at the grocery store is whole, although semi-pearled and pearled are also available. Whichever you will end up with, the cooking process can vary from 15 minutes to one hour.
In Italian cuisine, the three species are referred to: farro grande, farro medio, and farro piccolo.
Very nutritious and an excellent source of protein, high on fiber, and nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, and VITAMIN B.
How to cook farro
The cooking time will vary between 15 to 40 minutes, depending on your purchased type.
Rinse it before cooking to remove any starch and inspect any hard pieces.
You can soak it to shorten the cooking process. However, the most used method is bringing a pot of water to a boil, adding the farro, and reducing the heat to simmer or slightly bubbling until is tender.
Cooking tips and step by step to make this fabulous Roasted Bell Pepper With Italian Farro Salad
Start this recipe by cooking the bell peppers first. Do not forget to rub them with olive oil.
I would suggest doubling the number of bell peppers to roast and keeping them for another time. Excellent to have to make omelets, pasta, salads, and sandwiches. The uses are endless.
You can skip a few steps from this recipe by using the prepared roasted bell peppers that come in jars. Out of season, bell peppers can be pretty costly thus, the jar offers a great alternative.
I use red, yellow, and orange bell peppers. They are sweeter and less prone to cause heartburn.
After roasting the bell peppers, place them in a bowl and cover them with plastic. This step will help the skin to separate from the peppers.
Prepare the dressing while the farro and peppers are cooking
When the farro is cooked, drain and rinse and set aside.
Fresh thyme is an excellent substitute for oregano.
Green olives can be replaced by pitted black olives. I love green olives and always have a jar open.
½ cup green olives, pitted and quartered lengthwise
2 green onions, white and light green part thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
Instructions
Make the dressing by whisking together: lemon juice, olive oil, honey, allspice, paprika, garlic, and sea salt in a bowl and set aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add one tablespoon of sea salt to the water, and add the farro to it. Simmer until tender, 20-25 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
Preheat the broiler. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Rub the pepper with one teaspoon of olive oil and roast in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the skin starts to char and fall off.
Turn them once one side is dark and the skin begins to separate. Place the peppers in a bowl covered with plastic wrap for 5 to 8 minutes. Peel the skin off the peppers and remove the stems and seeds. Slice them into thin strips.
Place the cooked farro in a large mixing bowl and add the pepper strips, green olives, oregano, and green onions.
Pour over the dressing and gently mix. Season with more salt if needed it.
This recipe doubles as a starter to be prepared alongside dishes such as:
Rock Cod in Ginger Soy Sauce Marinate,
Shrimps Fingers.
Jalapeno Burgers
Or just by itself for a vegetarian light lunch or dinner.
Can you make this ahead of time?
Absolutely. All the flavors will have settled, even more, giving this salad a fantastic savory flavor to it.
Storage instructions
This farro salad will store well in an air-tight glass container for several days.
If you enjoy this dish, check out these flavorful recipes:
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I am a passionate cook, recipe developer, author, and food photographer with 14 years of food blogging experience. Inspired by my French and Italian heritage, I work with other chefs, both foreign and domestic, and have had countless discussions with chefs at famous restaurants globally. I enjoy sharing these creative culinary delights in simple, straightforward, easy-to-understand recipes.
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