Best Farro Risotto Recipes

WILD MUSHROOM AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO FARROTTO (FARRO RISOTTO)

Steps:

• Place the farro in a large pot of cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes to par-cook the farro, and then drain and set aside.
• In a heavy-based pot, add the butter and oil. Add the mushrooms, garlic and shallots and saute until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Deglaze with the white wine. Add the drained farro and stir to combine. Add the chicken stock to the pot a little at a time, ensuring at each addition that the liquid has been completely absorbed by the farro. Keep stirring and adding the stock until the mixture is thick and creamy.
• Add the sun-dried tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, and then add the Parmesan, sour cream and parsley.

FARRO RISOTTO

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the farro and 4 cups of water. Soak for 30 minutes and drain well.
• Heat the broth in a small saucepan and keep warm over low heat.
• In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the shallots and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the drained farro and cook, stirring constantly until toasted, about 3 minutes. Add the wine and stir constantly until evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the hot broth and stir constantly until completely absorbed. Continue adding the remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until the farro is creamy and cooked through, about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the currants, pine nuts, feta cheese, and the remaining salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and serve.
• Cook's Note: To toast the pine nuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven until lightly toasted, about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely before using.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• For mushrooms: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add half the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden and tender, about 7 minutes. Season with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper and transfer to a bowl. Repeat for remaining mushrooms. Keep warm until ready to serve.
• For stock: Combine stock ingredients in a 4-quart saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes. Reduce heat to the lowest setting to keep stock hot but not evaporating.
• For risotto: In another 4-quart pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until onion is translucent, about 2 minutes. Add farro and cook, stirring, until just starting to turn translucent (farro will start making a clicking sound), 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat if onion begins to brown.
• Pour wine into farro and onion mixture and cook, stirring, just until absorbed (farro should still be wet and glistening, not dry). Using a ladle, add 1/2 cup hot stock to the farro. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon, at a moderate speed, until about three-quarters of the liquid is absorbed (the mixture should be thick enough to hold a trail behind the spoon). Continue adding stock 1/2 cup at a time and stirring frequently until farro is tender but still firm to the bite and the liquid is creamy in consistency. As farro nears doneness, watch carefully and add smaller amounts of liquid to make sure it doesn't overcook (you may not need to use all the broth). The process should take 30 to 35 minutes total.
• For finishing: Stir in butter until completely melted (this is called mounting), then stir in cheese and season with salt. Serve topped with mushrooms, parsley, and pepper, and serve immediately.

MUSHROOM-FARRO 'RISOTTO'

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Add farro and reduce heat to simmer; cook until tender, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a nonstick pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly soft and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and season with onion powder, garlic salt, and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes.
• Drain and discard any excess water from the farro; add farro to the pan with the mushroom mixture. Add chicken stock and increase heat to a simmer, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add Parmesan cheese and stir until melted, about 1 minute more.

MUSHROOM FARRO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place the farro in a bowl, and pour on enough hot water to cover by an inch. Let soak according to package instructions (some types of farro must be soaked overnight).
• Place the dried mushrooms in a large bowl. Cover with 2 cups boiling water. Let sit 30 minutes.
• Drain the mushrooms through a strainer set over a bowl and lined with a paper towel. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer, then rinse in several changes of water to remove grit. Chop coarsely. Set aside.
• Add the broth from the mushrooms to the stock. You should have 6 cups (add water if necessary). Place in a saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Salt to taste.
• Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about three minutes.
• Add the fresh mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften and sweat. Add salt to taste, garlic and rosemary. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are tender, about five minutes.
• Add the farro and dried mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until the grains of farro are separate and beginning to crackle, about two minutes.
• Stir in the wine and cook, stirring until the wine has been absorbed.
• Add all but about 1 cup of the stock, and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer until the farro is tender, about 50 minutes. Remove the lid, and stir vigorously from time to time. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• There should be some liquid remaining in the pot but not too much. If the farro is submerged in stock, raise the heat and cook until there is just enough to moisten the grains, like a sauce. If there is not, stir in the remaining stock. Add the Parmesan, parsley and fresh ground pepper to taste, and stir together. Remove from the heat and serve.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Pulse 1 cup farro in a blender until about half is broken into smaller pieces. Cook 1 chopped shallot and 1 chopped small fennel bulb in 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, 5 minutes. Stir in the farro and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Add 4 cups water; bring to a simmer. Cook until the farro is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup grated parmesan and 2 tablespoons mascarpone; season with salt and pepper. Top with shaved parmesan and chopped fennel fronds.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH SWEET CORN AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Using a sharp knife, cut the corn kernels off the cob, cutting as close to the cob as possible. Set the kernels aside and reserve the cobs.
• Make the corn stock: Holding the cobs over a medium saucepan, use a spoon to scrape down the sides of the cobs to release any additional corn and juices. Break the cobs in half and add to the saucepan, along with 8 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 15 minutes before starting the risotto. (Keep the stock and corn cobs simmering while you cook the risotto.)
• While the corn stock simmers, heat the oil and butter in a separate pot or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and sauté until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the farro and stir for 1 minute. Add the white wine and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated.
• Increase the heat to medium and gradually add the corn stock, about 1 cup at a time, to the farro mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, and adding more stock as the farro absorbs it.
• When the risotto has been cooking for 15 minutes, add the tomatoes, corn kernels, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Continue cooking, adding stock as necessary and stirring often, until the farro is tender, 10 to 15 more minutes. (You will use most - if not all - of the corn stock.) The risotto is done when the farro grains are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
• Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan, tarragon and lemon zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat the stock in a small covered saucepan. Leave it on low heat to simmer.
• In a heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter and saute the onion, and butternut on medium-low heat for 5 minutes then add garlic and sage for 1 minute. Add the farro and stir to coat the grains with butter. Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes. Add 2 full ladles of stock to the farro plus the saffron, and pepper. Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes. Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes. Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock. Continue until the farro is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30-45 minutes total.
• Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan cheese. Taste and season with salt. You can add more butter at this time if desired.
• Mix well, garnish with fresh sage and serve.

ROASTED DUCK BREASTS WITH FARRO RISOTTO AND DUCK CONFIT

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Mix first 5 ingredients and duck legs and thighs in bowl. Cover leg-thigh mixture and breasts and carcasses separately; chill overnight.
• Preheat oven to 200°F. Heat duck fat in medium ovenproof pot over medium heat to 200°F. Add duck leg-thigh mixture; transfer to oven and cook until meat falls from bones, about 2 hours. Allow duck confit to cool 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Place duck carcasses in large ovenproof pot; roast uncovered until lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Transfer pot to stove top. Add leek and next 3 ingredients and sauté over medium-high heat until vegetables are lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add Port; boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add 6 cups water; boil gently for 30 minutes. Add peppercorns; boil broth 10 minutes. Strain broth; skim fat from surface. Boil broth in medium saucepan until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 30 minutes. Whisk butter into sauce. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill confit and sauce separately.)
• Rewarm duck confit to melt fat; remove duck from fat. Cut meat from bones and add to sauce.
• For farro risotto:
• Soak farro in cold water 20 minutes. Drain; rinse. Bring 8 cups water to boil in medium saucepan. Add 1/2 cup oil and farro. Simmer 20 minutes. Drain in strainer and rinse. Melt 1 tablespoon butter with 1 tablespoon oil in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots; sauté 1 minute. Add farro and wine. Simmer until almost all liquid evaporates, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth 1 cup at a time and simmer until liquid is absorbed and farro is just tender, stirring frequently, about 14 minutes total. Stir in cheese and 1 tablespoon butter. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, prepare duck breasts:
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Sprinkle duck breasts with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add duck breasts, skin side down; cook until skin is crisp, about 5 minutes. Turn duck over. Cook 1 minute; remove from heat.
• Bring honey to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add nuts and star anise; boil until honey is reduced to thick syrup, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Spoon honey-nut mixture onto duck breasts. Cook in oven about 4 minutes for medium-rare.
• Rewarm duck confit sauce over low heat. Divide risotto among 4 plates. Using slotted spoon, remove duck meat from sauce and spoon over risotto. Slice breasts diagonally; arrange around risotto. Drizzle duck with confit sauce.
• *Farro is sold at some Italian markets and natural foods stores.
• **A brown star-shaped seed pod available at Asian markets and specialty foods stores and in the spice section of some supermarkets.

BAKED FARRO RISOTTO WITH GOLDEN VEGETABLES AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add farro, grated vegetables, and broth; season generously with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and bake on lower rack 15 minutes.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, toss diced vegetables with sage and remaining 3 tablespoons oil; season to taste. Roast in a single layer on upper rack, stirring them and risotto halfway through, until vegetables are golden brown in places and farro is tender, 30 to 40 minutes more.
• Stir half of cheese into farro; add hot water as needed until creamy. Season to taste, and serve with vegetables, remaining cheese, pepitas, and a drizzle of oil.

FARRO AND PORCINI RISOTTO

Steps:

• To make pesto, pulse walnuts in a food processor until coarsely ground. Add basil, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper, and process. With machine running, pour in oil, and puree.
• To make risotto, bring farro, mushrooms, wine, and 2 cups stock to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-high. Continue to cook, stirring and adding stock 1/2 cup at a time, waiting for each addition to be absorbed before adding the next. It should take 20 to 25 minutes. Stir 1/3 cup pesto into risotto. Top with Parmesan and remaining pesto.

INSTANT POT® FARRO RISOTTO

Steps:

• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Melt butter and stir in farro. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Pour in chicken stock and stir to combine. Change to Manual setting. Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 10 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure carefully using the quick-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 5 minutes. Unlock and remove the lid. Add cream, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Greek seasoning. Stir until melted.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH SHRIMP

Steps:

• Bring broth and 2 cups water to a simmer in a medium saucepan. Heat oil in another medium saucepan over medium. Add scallion whites and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add farro; cook, stirring constantly, until toasted, about 2 minutes. Add wine and cook, stirring, until absorbed.
• Add 1/2 cup broth mixture and cook, stirring, until liquid is absorbed. Continue adding broth in this manner, 1/2 cup at a time, until farro is tender but still slightly firm, about 30 minutes. (You may not need all of broth.) Stir in shrimp and peas and cook until shrimp are opaque, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cheese, scallion greens, and chopped herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls, top with herb leaves, and serve.

FARRO AND ARBORIO RISOTTO WITH LEEKS, HERBS AND LEMON

Steps:

• Bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Season well and turn the heat to low.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick frying pan or wide, heavy saucepan and add the leeks. Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes, and add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the rice. Cook, stirring, until the grains of rice are separate and beginning to crackle, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the wine and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. The wine should bubble, but not too quickly. You want some of the flavor to cook into the rice before it evaporates. When the wine has just about evaporated, stir in a ladleful or two of the simmering stock (about 1/2 cup), enough to just cover the rice. The stock should bubble slowly (adjust heat accordingly). Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, not too fast and not too slowly, stirring often and adding more stock when the rice is almost dry, for 15 minutes.
• Stir in the farro and more stock to cover and continue to cook, adding more stock as necessary and stirring often, for another 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked through but al dente. If it is still hard in the middle, you need to continue adding stock and stirring for another 5 minutes or so. Taste and adjust seasonings.
• Stir in the herbs and fresh pepper (be generous), add another ladleful of stock and continue to cook, stirring, for a minute, then add the Parmesan and the lemon juice, stir together and remove from the heat. The risotto should be creamy; if it isn't, add a little more stock. Stir once, taste and adjust seasonings, and serve.

CRACKED FARRO RISOTTO (FARROTTO) WITH PARSLEY AND MARJORAM

Steps:

• Several hours or the day before you plan on serving the farrotto, place farro in a bowl and pour on 2 cups boiling water. Let sit for 3 hours, or refrigerate overnight.
• Drain farro and place in a food processor fitted with steel blade. Pulse 5 to 10 times. Scrape down sides of bowl and pulse again 5 to 10 times. Some, but not all of the farro should be broken. Scrape into a bowl.
• Put your stock or broth into a saucepan and bring it to a simmer on the stove, with a ladle nearby or in the pot. Make sure that it is well seasoned.
• Heat oil in a wide, heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots or onion and cook gently until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add farro and stir over medium heat until grains dry out a bit and begin to crackle. Add wine and cook, stirring, until wine is no longer visible in pan.
• Stir in enough of the simmering stock or broth to just cover the farro. The stock should bubble slowly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock and continue to cook in this fashion, not too fast and not too slowly, adding more stock when the farro is almost dry and stirring often, until mixture is creamy and farro is tender, about 25 minutes. Taste, adjust salt, and add pepper.
• Add another ladleful or two of stock to the pan. Stir in the parsley, marjoram and Parmesan, and remove from heat. The mixture should be creamy. Serve right away in wide soup bowls or on plates.

FARRO 'RISOTTO' WITH BACON AND KALE

Steps:

• Bring water and farro to boil in saucepan; simmer on medium-low heat 30 min. or until farro is tender and water is absorbed, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, cook and stir bacon in large nonstick pan on medium until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard all but 1 Tbsp. drippings from skillet.
• Add onions and garlic to reserved drippings; cook 4 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add kale; stir. Cook 5 min. or until tender, stirring frequently. Remove from heat.
• Add farro to kale mixture in skillet along with the cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice and bacon; mix lightly.

FARRO RISOTTO AL CHIANTI

Steps:

• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large pot; add the shallots. Saute the shallots until they are translucent. Add the farro, stir and lightly toast and coat with the butter. Add 1 cup Chianti and let it reduce completely, stirring constantly.
• Ladle 1/2 cup vegetable stock at a time into the farro. Continue stirring, adding more vegetable stock as it evaporates. Repeat the process until the stock is gone.
• Continue the process using the remainder of the wine. Cook for another 12 to 15 minutes or until the farro is al dente.
• Stir in the grated Parmigiano cheese and the remaining butter. Transfer the risotto to a warm bowl and serve immediately.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH ASPARAGUS AND FAVA BEANS

Steps:

• Soak farro in cold water for 20 minutes, drain and rinse well. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat, add farro, and simmer 20 minutes. Drain then cool by rinsing under cold water; set aside. Boil water, add asparagus and cook until it is just tender, about 3 minutes. Remove asparagus from water and place in a single layer on a large plate or baking sheet to cool. Return water to a boil and add shelled fava beans; cook until tender but not soft, about 1 minute. Drain beans and rinse under cold water until cool enough to touch. Remove the thin, pale green skin that covers each bean and discard. Place skinned beans on the plate or baking sheet with the asparagus. Heat vegetable broth in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a simmer, then reduce heat to low so it is at a bare simmer while you prepare the risotto. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add shallots and season with salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until shallots are softened but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add cooked farro and stir to coat grains in oil; cook farro until outer coating of grain is glossy and a toasty aroma rises from the pot, about 3 minutes. Add wine and stir until it has evaporated. Add a ladleful of warm broth and cook, stirring frequently, until farro has almost completely absorbed it, about 2 minutes. Add another ladleful of broth and stir until almost all of it is absorbed. (Do not let the pan get dry-there should be a constant veil of stock over the farro at all times.) Continue adding ladlefuls of broth, stirring frequently and tasting regularly, until farro is tender but firm to the bite. The indentation in the farro grain will open and puff when completely cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the saucepan from heat and gently fold in asparagus, fava beans, lemon zest, tarragon, parsley, and butter.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH FARRO RISOTTO

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400F. Scoop seeds and pulp from squash. Rub flesh and skin of squash w/ 1/2 tsp olive oil. Sprinkle flesh w/ herbes de Provence and season w/ salt & pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet or dish and cook in oven until tender when pierced w/ knife, about 45 min. Set aside to cool. 2. Simmer the broth on stovetop. In a separate large skillet, heat 1 TBS olive oil over medium heat. Add shallots, garlic, thyme & sage, and cook for ~3 min. until soft & fragrant. Stir in farro, season w/ salt & pepper, and allow to cook for 2 min. 3. Reduce heat to med-low, stir in 1/2 cup simmering broth and allow to cook until almost completely absorbed. Continue stirring in 1/2 cup broth at a time, allowing liquid to absorb before adding more until farro is tender, but still slightly chewy, 30-35 min. 4. Scrape cooled squash into a bowl and mash. Stir in risotto. Taste and make any final adjustments to seasoning w/ salt and pepper. Spoon risotto into shallow bowls and top w/ truffle oil.

FARRO RISOTTO WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• 1. Place farro in a bowl, & pour on enough hot water to cover by an inch. Let soak while you prepare the remaining ingredients. Drain. 2. Place the dried mushrooms in a large Pyrex measuring cup or bowl, & pour in 2 cups boiling water. Let sit 30 min. Drain mushrooms through a strainer set over a bowl & lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel. Squeeze mushrooms over the strainer, then rinse in several changes of water to remove grit. Chop coarsely if the pieces are large & set aside. Add the broth from the mushrooms to the stock. You should have 6 cups (add water if necessary). Place in a saucepan, & bring to a simmer. Season with salt to taste. 3. Heat oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add onion. Cook, stirring, until it begins to soften, about three min. Add fresh mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until they begin to soften & sweat. Add salt to taste, garlic & rosemary. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms are tender, about five min. 4. Add farro & reconstituted dried mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until the grains of farro are separate and beginning to crackle, about two min. Stir in the wine & cook, stirring until the wine has been absorbed. Add all but 1 cup of the stock, & bring to a simmer. 5. Cover & simmer 50 min or until farro is tender; some of the grains will be beginning to splay. Remove the lid, & stir vigorously from time to time. Taste & adjust seasoning. There should be some liquid remaining in the pot but not too much. If the farro is submerged in stock, raise the heat & cook until there is just enough to moisten the grains, like a sauce. If there is not, stir in the remaining stock. If not serving right away, cover and let stand. Just before serving, bring back to a simmer, add the Parmesan, parsley & pepper, & stir together. Remove from the heat and serve. Advance preparation: You can make this several hours or even a day ahead & reheat. Add some stock to it, & stir over medium heat to reheat.