Tessa’s Recipe Rundown
Taste: Earthy, nutty, and savory. Texture: I love the firm and chewy texture of farro, it doesn’t even feel healthy when you’re eating it. Ease: Much simpler than traditional risotto. Appearance: This dish is rustic which matches its earthy flavor profile and the utilization of this incredible ancient grain. Pros: Easier and healthier than traditional risotto. Cons: None! Would I make this again? Yes.This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Is there anything worse than being stuck in an endless spiral of confusion and bureaucracy that is practically mandatory when dealing with things like taxes, bills, insurance, HR departments, or schooling? Everything is so automated that when you have to call to get a question answered half the time it takes 10 minutes just to get to an actual person but even then, there’s only so much you can communicate and accomplish over the phone. Less and less is done face-to-face. In today’s job market the initial hiring steps are almost exclusively done online, forcing you to whittle down your life and career achievements to a little piece of electronic paper. Don’t get me wrong, I love the internet and have been given so many opportunities and friendships because of it. But in some instances I feel like things would be so much easier if I could just see and talk to someone in person. Do you ever feel that way?
Sorry for that little rant but lately I’ve been dealing with some issues over the phone that have been so incredibly frustrating. But let’s move on to the food! Today I felt obligated to bring you a healthy recipe after posting such an indulgent one the other day. The best part about this healthy recipe, though, is that it doesn’t taste healthy. If you’ve never had farro you have to try it. I can usually find it in the bulk grain bins at my local health food store or even at specialty kitchen stores like Sur la Table. It’s really good for you and has incredible taste and texture so you can’t beat that.
Farro Risotto
Ingredients
- 1 onion, minced
- 1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
- 1 1/2 cups farro
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine the onion, carrot, oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the farro and toast until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in the broth and water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer, stirring often, until the farro is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Stir in the parsley and lemon juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Thanks for the farro recipe! I bought my sister farro for her birthday (along with a cookbook, etc.) but we don’t have a great recipe to try.
Is this more of a true risotto that stands alone as a main course? Or is it more of a side dish that requires a protein? If so, what would it pair well with?
On a side note, your food photos always look so scrumptious! Now, I definitely appreciate it since starting my blog and trying to figure everything out. It’s so hard to make food look delicious, even when it is! I’ve only posted once about food with my camera phone (eek!), but the next two recipes that I have on board were photographed with a better camera. Anyways, thanks for the photo inspiration too!
I ate this risotto for lunch and it was quite filling (each serving has 10g of protein and 6g of fiber) but for dinner I would probably serve it with chicken or shrimp. This dish would pair well with just about anything!
Thank you and congrats on your blog! Food photography is not easy and it took me a long time to begin to feel like my photos weren’t terrible (definitely still have those feelings sometimes). I cringe whenever I see my photos from an old post.
Despite the fact I’m a 20-something, public relations major who blogs and loves social media, I truly value traditional methods of communication. Emails, texts and automated responses will never compare to handwritten letters and phone conversations, no matter how much technology advances.