Recently, someone gave me a bag of farro. I have cooked farro, which is a type of wheat berry, as well as kamut and spelt in my past, however not in a long time. So I read about farro and cooked up a pot of it and then I made the following delightfully tasty recipe for Farro Salad, Mediterranean-Style.

On the package of farro the instructions say to cook it for 30 minutes and if it is soaked overnight, cook it for 10 minutes. I do not think that this is enough time. In The Splendid Grain by Rebecca Wood, for Steamed Wheat Berries she recommends first toasting the grains for 5 minutes and then soaking them at least an hour or overnight and then she cooks them for an hour. I used this method and was pleased with the results.

Farro Salad, Mediterranean-Style

Although I prepared this salad with farro, it can be made with just about any grain that you like-rice, a combination of rice, barley, quinoa or even couscous or orzo. If you don’t have arugula, try using Italian parsley and basil, frilly salad mustard or other tender leafy greens and herbs. I used red onion, however any onion will do and scallions would also be tasty. I quite like the umaminess of the sun-dried tomatoes, parmesan and walnuts here. You could use pine nuts or slivered almonds in place of the walnuts, though I like the bitterness of them in this salad.

Serves 6 to 8

5 to 6 cups cooked farro or other cooked grains
3 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
About 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, coarsely chopped
About 1/3 cup chopped red onion
1/2 small red or yellow bell pepper, chopped
2 to 3 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed
About 2 cups lightly packed arugula leaves, coarsely chopped
2 tablespoons dried currants
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of half a lemon
1 tablespoon tamari soy sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
About 3 to 4 tablespoons coarsely grated Parmigniano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano
1/4 to 1/3 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, lightly toasted
Red pepper flakes, optional

Transfer the cooked faro to a mixing bowl and drizzle a few tablespoons of olive oil over it, season lightly with salt and freshly ground pepper and toss to mix. Add the sun-dried tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, garlic, arugula and currants all at once.

Sprinkle the lemon zest overall, lemon juice, soy sauce, balsamic and the rest of the olive oil, season with a little more salt and fresh pepper and toss all of the ingredients together.

Add the cheese and walnuts and red pepper flakes if desired and toss. The salad can be served right away or allowed to sit for up to an hour before serving; generally I add the nuts just before serving so they don’t get soft.

If any salad is left over, refrigerate it and allow it to come to cool room temperature before serving.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Burpee Organic Coconut Coir Concentrated Seed Starting Mix, 16 Quart

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

ORGANIC COCONUT COIR: Made from recycled coconut husks, coir is a light, sustainable growing medium that holds the perfect amount of moisture for starting seeds. 100% biodegradable soil alternative. Environmentally friendly and a renewable alternative to peat moss. OMRI listed and certified organic. IDEAL GROWING MIX: Improve seed germination and root growth with this premium coconut fiber mix, which improves nutrients absorption! Great for flower, vegetable, herb, and more plant types. OMRI listed. Naturally disease and pathogen resistant, it will help you grow healthy live plants. EASY TO STORE & EXPAND: Each compact coconut coir brick expands into 8 quarts of seed starting mix, providing 16 quarts total. Just add water to expand! Dehydrated bricks save space until planting. Once expanded, coconut coir provides a quality growing medium for all types of plants—indoor plants, house plants, outdoor plants, and more! NATURALLY CONSERVES WATER: Renewable coco coir has excellent moisture retention and better air circulation than peat. This eco-friendly, premium seeds starting mix combines well with other potting soil and compost for container plants & raised beds. 100% GUARANTEED: Burpee is committed to the success of all gardeners. We treat each order with care to ensure healthy seeds, plants, soil mixes, and gardening supplies are sent in excellent condition. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, we aim to make it right!

Buy at Amazon

Ashman Garden Cultivator (1Pack)

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Solid Build—The Ashman Garden Cultivator/Tiller is strong in construction so that it can withstand heavy work in the garden. The blade and the shaft are coupled well for deep digging and uprooting the soil from the depths. It serves the purpose of cultivation very well. Create a blooming crop and watch it blossom and reap the benefits. Sharpened Fine piercing Blade—The blades are razor sharp and are made to pierce into any kind of soil and to serve digging, loosening soil, and weeding. The blades are rust-proof and have chip-resistant coating enhancing durability. Use it to control weeds, bury crop residue in the soil, and for preparing a proper seed bed. High-Quality Design—The thoughtful design incorporated to shape the blades in L shape helps dig deep into the soil and rip it from beneath for cultivation. This helps a lot when weeding. Dig well and plant well. The handle is made to fit in the hand well and can be held tightly to apply push and pull forces effectively. Practical Utility—The garden cultivator is made with “practical utility” as the core of its purpose. It serves all the necessary purposes when gardening. Helps mix soil, which will loosen it up, providing more nutrients for the crops.

Buy at Amazon

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon