Receta Baked Farro...
Usually I eat farro (a whole grain similar to spelt or barley) in a cold salad, like my Roman Farro Salad which is one of our summer-time favorites - but when I found a recipe for baked farro, that sounded like macaroni and cheese without the macaroni, I just knew it would be good! And it was!
Farro is available at Whole Foods and I love the nutty, chewy goodness of it...and while it's very good for you, this recipe, I'm afraid, is not all that healthy...but it's dang good! Think of it as comfort food...rich, cheesy and chewy...a bowl full of this in front of a roaring fire is just the ticket on a FREEZING COLD JUNE NIGHT! Yes! It's stinkin' cold up here! I think the high yesterday was in the 50's...and we all know that summer doesn't truly begin in the Northwest until July 5th...we have to spend the 4th bundled up in blankets to watch our fireworks...then the next day the sun comes out to stay...so I'm still baking - no worries about heating up the kitchen here!
Whole wheat bread cubes are the topping, with a drizzle of olive oil...it gives you that crunchy, chewy texture that tells your brain all is right in the world. I dished up a nice hearty bowl of this yumminess for the mister - he took one look at it and said, "What's this crap?" He's such a wordsmith...can't you just see why I love him so? I told him it was good and in my sweetest voice I said, "Sit down, shut up and eat," and I said it with a smile, too, 'cause that's the kind of gal I am. And he ate...two bowls full and then he had trouble walking he was so full! A little goes a long way! Try this one...even if you have to wait until it's blustery and cold outside, it will be worth the wait.
Baked Farro - Adapted from Several Recipes, Including Giada De Laurentiis
For the sauce:
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups warm milk
- salt and pepper
- Farro:
- 2 cups smoked, cubed ham
- 1 cup mozzarella, grated
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups farro, rinsed and drained
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- salt and pepper
- 4 slices whole wheat bread, cubed
- olive oil, for drizzling
- cooking spray
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking
- dish with cooking spray.
- For the sauce: In a 2-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium
- heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. Gradually add the warm milk,
whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Simmer over medium heat, whisking
constantly, until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 8 minutes (do
not allow the mixture to boil). Remove from the heat and season with
salt and pepper, to taste.
For the farro: In a large stock
pot, add the chicken broth and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Add the farro, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the
farro is tender, about 25 minutes. Drain, if necessary. In a large bowl, combine the farro,
thyme, both cheeses and sauce. Stir in the ham and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour the mixture into the
prepared baking dish and top with whole wheat bread cubes; drizzle with olive oil.
Bake until the top is golden brown and forms a crust, about 25 to
30 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serves 8.
"Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it." ~ Irving Berlin
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