Farro In Insalata Alla Milanese Italian Farro Salad Recipes

ITALIAN FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse and drain farro, then cook according to package instructions. Transfer to a large mixing or serving bowl.
• While the farro cooks, prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon, honey, oregano, salt, and pepper until evenly blended. Pour half of the dressing over the warm farro and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss to coat.
• Add all of the remaining ingredients to the bowl except for the feta: sundried tomatoes, cucumber, roasted red pepper, cherry tomatoes, peas, and parsley. Toss to coat. Taste and add as much of the remaining dressing as you like. Sprinkle with feta, lightly toss again, then season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve cold or at room temperature.

FARRO SALAD WITH ROASTED VEG (INSALATA DI FARRO CON VERDURE AL FORNO)

Steps:

• Farro is a grain similar to pearl barley, but it's dried in such a way that instead of being fluffy and spongy it becomes chewy and nutty. You may have difficulty getting hold of it, but if you can find it you'll be using it all the time - it has an unusual flavour half-way between rice and couscous (this recipe will also work well with both of these). In Italy it was a major food for the ancient Romans, who used it to make bread, porridge and soup before they got hold of wheat. Nowadays it's used in salads, soups, stews, even pastas. You should be able to buy farro in good Italian delis, and supermarkets have started to stock it in the special selection aisles. Here's a recipe for one of my fave salads - give it a go.
• Preheat the oven to 200ºC/400ºF/gas 6. Soak the farro or bulgar wheat in cold water for 20 minutes, then drain. Slice the courgettes across into chunky half-moons and put them into a large roasting tray. Add the remaining vegetables and the garlic cloves and toss together with a good splash of olive oil. Season with pepper and a tiny pinch of salt. Try to spread the vegetables out in one layer, as they'll roast better this way (use 2 trays if you have to). Roast in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, removing the trays and carefully shaking them now and then, until the vegetables are cooked through and crisp around the edges. Sprinkle a little vinegar over the vegetables as soon as they come out of the oven and set aside to cool. When cool, tip on to a large chopping board, add the fresh herbs and chop finely.
• Place the farro or bulgar wheat in a large saucepan, cover with fresh cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 minutes, or until tender, and drain well. Dress with olive oil and the lemon juice, season with salt and pepper, and toss with the roasted herby vegetables. Scatter over the reserved fennel tops and serve.

FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil over high heat. Add green beans and snap peas, and cook for 1 minute. Fish out the beans with a spider, mesh strainer or slotted spoon. Rinse briefly in cool water, then blot on a kitchen towel and set aside.
• Add farro to the pot, and cook until al dente, 15 to 20 minutes, then drain and spread out on a baking sheet or platter to cool.
• As the farro cooks, make the vinaigrette: Put shallots in a small bowl. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, lemon juice and zest, and leave for 5 minutes, then whisk in olive oil.
• Season the farro lightly with salt and pepper. Drizzle with half the vinaigrette, toss and mound.
• Slice the asparagus in very thin, lengthwise ribbons with a thin-bladed knife or mandolin and place in a medium-size bowl. Add cooked green beans, snap peas and thick slices of avocado. Salt lightly, add remaining vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.
• Arrange dressed vegetables over farro, garnish with basil leaves and serve.

INSALATA DI FARRO: SPELT SALAD

Steps:

• In a saucepan, heat up 3 tablespoons olive oil; then add the garlic and farro. Cook the garlic until golden, allowing the farro to get toasted as well. Stir to prevent sticking. Add vegetable broth, a few ladles at a time as you would preparing risotto. Continue stirring and add more broth, a little at a time, as it evaporates. Cook until the farro is soft. In another saucepan, heat up 4 tablespoons olive oil. Add the onion, zucchini, red pepper, eggplant, and then the tomatoes. Add the salt and cook until tender. If the pan is drying out, avoid adding more oil, just add some vegetable broth to help cook the vegetables. Once the vegetables are soft, remove from the heat and add to the farro. Then add the parsley and mint and mix well. Plate the dish, top with walnuts and drizzle with olive oil.

FARRO IN INSALATA ALLA MILANESE (ITALIAN FARRO SALAD)

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan; add farro. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until farro is tender, about 30 minutes. Drain and let cool.
• Mix farro, tomatoes, onion, capers, garlic, and basil together in a bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the top.