Seven must-try farro recipes
Step aside quinoa and barley, there’s another ancient grain on the rise; farro. Farro’s proven health benefits, yummy nutty flavour, comforting chewy but pillowy texture and versatility as an ingredient are just some of the main selling points behind the jump in its popularity.
There is almost an endless array of ways to easily incorporate farro into your meals. You could try using farro as a substitute for brown rice, barley, oats, pasta, couscous or lentils in any number of your favourite savoury and even sweet recipes.
If you’re after some fresh inspiration to maximise the unique flavour and texture of your farro, look no further. Here are some of our all-time favourite foodie endorsed and chef-designed farro recipes.
First time cooking with farro? Check out our guide to cooking the perfectly chewy farro every time before getting stuck into these mouth-watering farro recipes.
Farro and roasted carrot salad with raisins, harissa and chickpeas
Adam Baughan, Head Chef at Mr McCracken, describes his cumin-confit carrot and farro salad as ‘a nice hearty and warm dish that’s either great as a side or a main salad dish. It’s really filling’. You can serve it as a tasty side dish for about eight people or as the main for a group of four.
Mount Zero Pearled Farro, roasted cauliflower, kale and blistered grape salad
Are you a fan of sweet and savoury combos? If yes, this salad recipe by food writer Allyse Wafer is a must-try. Wholesome, filling and scrummy, mix roasted cauliflower (the only way to eat it!), blistered red grapes, cooked pearled farro and crisp roasted kale leaves in a serving bowl. For extra points crumble feta or ricotta cheese over the salad.
BBQ ‘barnsley’ lamb chop with farro salad
Anna Quayle, Head Chef at Fitzroy Town Hall Hotel, takes you through her BBQ ‘barnsley’ lamb chop with farro salad recipe. Combining farro, mint, coriander, parsley, shallots and tomatoes, Anna explains, ‘the salad is easy to whip up, and quite light’. You can easily match the fragrant farro salad with your favourite protein if lamb chops aren’t your thing. For the final flourish dress the salad with freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt and pepper and extra virgin olive oil.
Mount Zero grain salad with barberries
Transformer Head Chefs Luke Florence and Bryce Edwards share their secrets to cooking a Middle Eastern inspired grain salad. Essential ingredients include farro, freekeh, quinoa, black lentils, vegetable stock and a generous dollop of butter to glaze the grains, yum! This recipe serves four as a side dish or two people as a main.
Mixed grain, pickled fennel, pomegranate, sumac and labne salad
Are grain bowls your jam? If so, this is the ultimate farro recipe for you. Celebrated chef Paul Baker (Botanic Gardens Restaurant Adelaide and Chefs on Wheels) spills the ingredients and instructions for preparing his fresh and scrumptious mixed grain salad. Load up cooked farro, freekeh and pearled barley with pickled fennel, a tangy dressing and creamy labne, all topped off with a sprinkling of sweet pomegranate seeds and barberries.
Char-grilled corn, zucchini and farro salad with miso dressing
Cook Julia Busuttil Nishimura (@JuliaOstro) shares her simple and fast farro salad. If entertaining you could prep all the ingredients ahead of time and simply dress the salad right before serving. All you need to do is combine your cooked farro, char-grilled corn, fried zucchini, mint, parsley and lightly toasted pistachios. The miso dressing is the perfect way to add an extra layer of flavour to this delectable summer salad. Julia recommends substituting peas and asparagus in spring for a new spin on it.
Grant’s rabbit cacciatore with pearled farro
Warming, hearty and delish, Grant Freeman, Operations Manager at Mount Zero Olives, lets us know what it takes to prepare his rabbit cacciatore. Feel free to swap out rabbit for different proteins like duck or chicken. For the yummiest results, you’ll need pearled farro, kalamata olives, plenty of extra virgin olive oil, pork and fennel sausages, onion, garlic, white wine, chicken stock and canned tomatoes. The perfect ingredients to make a comforting winter meal.
So there you have it. Our top seven favourite farro recipes to tempt your tastebuds. Now all that’s left to do is add the ingredients to your shopping list for your pick of the bunch, get cooking and enjoy!
Want even more farro recipe ideas and inspiration? Here are bonus tasty farro recipes from Mount Zero’s community of culinary superstars for even more ways to bring the healthy grain into your meals.
