Barefoot Contessa Farro Salad Recipes

CHARLIE BIRD'S FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Place the farro, apple cider, bay leaves, 2 teaspoons salt, and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes, until the farro is tender. (If all the liquid is absorbed before the farro is tender, add a little more water.) Drain the farro and transfer to a large serving bowl. Discard the bay leaves.
• Meanwhile, in a small measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir the vinaigrette into the warm farro and set aside for at least 15 minutes to cool.
• Before serving, stir in the pistachios, parsley, mint, tomatoes, and radishes. Add the arugula and lightly fold in the Parmesan so as not to break it up too much. Sprinkle with the sea salt and serve immediately.

FARRO TABBOULEH WITH FETA

Steps:

• Rinse and drain the farro and place it in a large saucepan with 4 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, until tender. Drain.
• Meanwhile, combine the cucumbers, chickpeas, scallions, parsley, and mint in a very large bowl.
• In a 2-cup glass measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Add the hot farro to the vegetables and herbs, pour the dressing on top, and stir to combine. Carefully stir in the feta, olives, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Serve at room temperature.

BAKED FARRO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the bacon on a baking rack set on a sheet pan and bake it for 20 to 30 minutes, until browned (it won't be crisp). Cut the bacon in very large dice.
• Meanwhile, in a small (9-inch) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender and starting to brown. Add the thyme, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook for 1 minute. Add the farro and chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Place the squash on top of the farro mixture, cover, and bake in the same oven with the bacon for 30 minutes, until the squash and farro are tender. Check once during cooking and add a little chicken stock if it's dry.
• Sprinkle the bacon and parmesan on the squash and farro and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, until most of the liquid evaporates, the farro and butternut squash are tender, and the cheese has melted. Serve hot directly from the pot.

WHEATBERRY & FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Place 3 cups of salted water in each of two large saucepans and bring them to a boil. Add the wheatberries to one saucepan, and the farro to the other and cook, uncovered, over low heat for approximately 45 minutes, or until they are soft. Drain and place them together in a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, saute the red onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-low heat until translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add 1/4 cup of olive oil, the balsamic vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add the onions to the wheatberries and farro together with the scallions, red bell pepper, carrot and parsley and mix well.
• Allow the salad to sit for at least 30 minutes for the wheatberries and farro to absorb the sauce. Season to taste and serve at room temperature.

GREEK SALAD BY INA GARTEN (BAREFOOT CONTESSA)

Steps:

• Place the cucumber, peppers, tomatoes and red onion in a large bowl.
• For the vinaigrette, whisk together the garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Still whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make an emulsion.
• Pour the vinaigrette over the vegetables.
• Add the feta and olives and toss lightly.
• Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Serve at room temperature.

CHARLIE BIRD'S FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring farro, apple cider, salt, bay leaves and 2 cups water to a simmer. Simmer until farro is tender and liquid evaporates, about 30 minutes. If all the liquid evaporates before the farro is done, add a little more water. Let farro cool, then discard bay leaves.
• In a salad bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Add farro, cheese and pistachio nuts and mix well. This salad base will keep for up to 4 hours at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator (bring to room temperature before serving). Just before serving, fold in arugula, herbs, tomatoes, radish and flaky salt to taste.