Farro with Sausage Recipe

Have you tried farro? Lots of people are just discovering the wholesomeness of this ancient grain as it makes a culinary comeback.

Farro looks like wheat berries and is the original grain from which all others derive. Farro has a chewy texture, and it is a remarkably healthful food. It can used in so many ways: added to soups, as a stuffing for vegetables or used in casseroles like this one.

In this recipe it is combined with Italian sausage and mushrooms for a hearty main dish. Farro is available in grocery and specialty food stores and online. One cup raw farro will yield 2 ½ cups cooked.

Farro with Sausage and Mushrooms
Serves 6
 
1 cup farro
3 cups water
1-tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
¼ pound pancetta, minced
½ pound button or oyster mushrooms, caps cleaned, stemmed and cut into small pieces
1-pound pork sausage, casings removed and meat crumbled
2 1/2 cups tomato juice
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ cup dry red wine
½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
Fine sea salt to taste
 
Place the farro in a 2-quart saucepan and cover with the water. Bring to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
 
In the same saucepan heat the olive oil over medium heat and cook the onion and pancetta until the pancetta starts to brown. Stir in the mushrooms and cook until they soften. Stir in the pork and cook it until it looses its pink color.
 
Return the farro to the pot and stir to combine well.
 
In separate bowl, combine the tomato juice, tomato paste and red wine. Pour the ingredients into the pot and stir the ingredients well.
 
Cover the pot, lower the heat to medium low and cook about 20 minutes, or just until the liquid is almost absorbed and the farro is cooked through but still chewy.
 
Stir in the cheese and salt to taste and serve hot in soup bowls.
 
Pass extra cheese on the side to sprinkle on top.

Comments

[CF Nave]

WE are a group of dedicated women raising money for desperate
families. The Group is W>H>O> Women Helping Others. Our annual dinner is approaching and I would like to know if Mary Ann would sign a copy of one of her books for us to raffle off. We are willing to pay for it but a signed copy would obviously generate greater interest and mmoney.
Thanx
Concetta F Nave'

[mary ann esposito]

Please send a self addressed large padded 9x 12 stamped envelope in the amount of $6.00 to cover postage and handling and send to Ciao Italia. PO 891 Durham NH 03824

We will send out a signed copy.

[CF Nave]

Mary Ann
That is a wonderful jesture and I can't tell you how much we appreciate your generous offering. We will keep you in our prayers and know that your generosity will help someone less fortunate that us. Okay, now back to dinner and of course it is one of your recipes. I love your recipes and have a few of "Grandmom's" originals.
Grazie, Grazie, Mille Grazie

Concetta F. Nave'.

[Dawn Marie Darretta]

Maryann,
The Italian specialy store we have is a bit of a ride. There is one closer but they are ridiculously overpriced. I have buckets of various types of grain. I grind them for bread & baking and use the hard red wheatberries for cooking. I had heard that spelt is extremely close to farro. Do you find this to be true? And could I use the spelt in this recipe and get close to the same results? Am happy to see grain recipes!

Thank you!
Dawn Marie Darrettaa

[Dawn Marie Darretta]

Maryann, after posting the comment above, I saw that you responded to my post on your blog concerning grains. It answered my question. And I apologize for my repeat of info. I forgot I posted all that previously! Ah, life w/ 2 young boys!

[Giuliana Palmas]

Dear Marianna, I am a Sardinian girl living in Coeur D'Alene , Idaho, trying to teach Americans how to cook from scratch in my cooking classes. I just bought your book" What you knead" and I love it.
I am going to make the grape bread for my next homemade pasta cooking class.
Will buy some more of your books and use your great recipes.
thanks for the inspiration
Giuliana

[mary Ann Esposito]

Cara Giuliana,

Sono lieta che tu piace il libro What You Knead. Buon divertimento in cucina e buona pasqua!

Marianna

[CF Nave]

Mary Ann
Thank you from the W.H.O Women Helping Others from Gloucester County NJ. My most recent post is not shown and it was to inform you that our annual fund raiser is April 22nd and your generous contribution will be part of our annual dinner to help women. I did send the self addressed envelope as you suggested so can you confirm your receipt of it. I appreciate your generosity and please let me know via e-mail if we can include your gift in our campaign. Hope this isn't an inconvenience but we are all awaiting the book.
Thank again
Concetta

[mary ann esposito]

I have been out of the country and will check on this on my return

[CF Nave]

Grazie, Grazie

Concetta