Healthy Yum Yums

Farro is an ancient grain, and I'm so glad it is in my life in current times. With the surge in the popularity of whole grains i.e., quinoa, brown rice, bulger, barley, etc. etc., farro is readily available in your everyday grocery store. 

I find it chewier than barley, and I think it takes on flavors more fully than barley as well. This salad kept for several days in my refrigerator, since I was the only human living in this house who actually ate it. It's great to lunch on after a weekend of over indulgence. And the fact that it lasts for awhile and still tastes delish is good news for all of you meal-planning peeps out there.

I used regular broccoli. The salad is a really nice mix of flavors and textures.

This is the recipe straight from the Smitten Kitchen Web site, which I must say is fabulous!

Broccoli Rubble Farro Salad

From Smitten Kitchen

(2 robust servings or 4 more petite ones)

Salt

1 cup semi pearled farro

1 pound broccolini or regular broccoli

4 Tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

Red pepper flakes to taste

Finely grated zest, then juice of 1 lemon

Freshly ground black pepper

4 ounces pecorino romano cheese, grated or ground in a food processor.

Bring a medium/large pot of salted water to boil. Once boiling, add broccoli and boil for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, until slightly softened but still crisp overall. Scoop out with slotted spoon or tongs, then drain.

Add farro back to same pot (I’m totally okay with some errant leftover broccoli flecks and vitamins here, if you’re not, use another pot of salted water) and cook, simmering, for 25 to 30 minutes, until tender. (Since there are so many varieties of farro, however, if your package suggests otherwise, it’s best to defer to its cooking suggestion.) Drain and tip into a large mixing bowl; cool to lukewarm.

Pat drained broccoli dry on towels, trying to remove as much excess moisture as possible. Chop into small (roughly 1/2-inch) bits. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add garlic and pepper flakes, to taste, and cook for 1 minute, until garlic is faintly golden. Add chopped broccoli, lemon zest, and salt (I use a full teaspoon kosher salt here, but adjust the amount to your taste) and cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 more minutes, until broccoli is well-seasoned and slightly more tender.

Add broccoli and every bit of garlic and oil from the pan to the bowl of farro and stir to combine. Add lemon juice, black pepper and more salt to taste (but 1/2 teaspoon of each is what we used) and stir to combine. Stir in cheese.

Serve warm or at room temperature as-in, with an egg on top, burrata, and/or seasoned breadcrumbs.