New Podcast is ready for your ears! ย The Grass is Always Greener. ย Dudes… it’s a good one!
I meant to make cake. ย I meant to make whipped cream. ย I meant to buy fresh raspberries. ย I mean to smash the three things together into a large bowl and eat it all… and then I made salad.
Don’t yell. ย We can not survive on doughnuts alone.
Let me tell you a little something about me… I do this weird thing wherein I eat one thing, all day. ย That’s not to say that I eat one carrot all day. ย No. ย I eat carrots, and only carrots all day. ย I don’t know why I do this. ย Welcome to crazybrain.
So! ย A few days ago when I made doughnuts…. I ate doughnuts all day. ย Doughnuts and lime popsicles… because I was thirsty. ย Clearly something is wrong with me.
I tell you all of this because it’s important you understand that salad is a good thing around these parts. ย A salad recipe means that I’m eating salad all day. My thighs like those days.
Know what makes salad tolerable? ย Doughnuts.
No… stop that. ย Caramelized onions.
I’m pretty sure that caramelizing onions with a touch of balsamic vinegar is just like turning onions into candy.
Do you know what farro is? ย It’s one of my favorites. ย Farro is a type of wheat. ย It’s boiled in salted water like pasta, then drained. ย When cooked it’s puffed and tender, with a hint of al dente crunch. ย I love this grain. ย Hearty, wholesome and delicious.
I found farro is the bulk section at Whole Foods, but you can also order it online here.
It’s one of my favorite grains. ย It’s popular in Italy. ย Let’s make it popular here.
Oh! ย If you’re not into farro, why not try Israeli Couscous?
Secret: ย roasting cherry tomatoes on the vine makes them instantly more fancy and cool.
It is our mission in life to be fancy and cool. ย Duh.
Yummy candy onions, fancy roasted tomatoes, hearty farro and fresh parsley.
Yes, ย I put parsley in every savory dish I make. ย It’s my thing. ย It makes me feel chef-y. ย It’s like Rachel Ray calling extra virgin olive oil EVOO. ย Just give me this parsley thing and we’ll call it even.
Oh. ย Ps. ย Put fresh grated Parmesan Cheese on this salad. ย It is a wonderful suggestion from me to you.
Roasted Tomato and Caramalized Onion Farro Salad
serves 4
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 (or a few good pinches) salt
1/2 teaspoon (or a good pinch) crushed red chili flakes
2 medium yellow onions, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 cup farro
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup coarsely chopped parsley
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F. ย Place cherry tomatoes on a sheet tray. ย Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and red chili flakes. ย Bake for 15 minutes, or until some tomatoes have burst and are golden brown and sizzling. ย Remove from the onion and set aside to cool slightly.
Place olive oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. ย Add sliced onions and toss to coat in fat. ย Allow onions to cook down for 5 minutes without stirring. ย Toss after 5 minutes, then allow to cook without being disturbed for another 5 minutes. ย Add salt and toss. ย Onions will begin to brown and break down. ย Remove from the heat momentarily, keep your nose back, and add balsamic vinegar. ย Toss to coat all of the onions. ย Return to heat and allow to cook down to a melty onion consistency. ย Onions will be browned, broken down and delicious.
Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. ย When water boils, add a pinch of salt. ย Add farro and stir. ย Cook farro until it is softened through and has a light al dente bite to it, about 15 to 20 minutes. ย Drain farro in a strainer, return to pot, and toss with olive oil. ย Add roasted tomatoes, caramalized onions, and chopped parsley. ย Toss and serve warm.
Farro salad will last up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
94 Responses
Today is the first time I have visited your site, there is a lot that looks very interesting.
I am concerned though the “roasted tomato and caramelized onion farro salad” is listed on the gluten free page. That could be quite disastrous for someone trying to cook for a friend that doesn’t fully understand ingredients that need to be avoided. Just thought I would share the observation in case you were unaware that it appears on the gluten free list.
Just made this last night and it was AMAZING! I added roasted butternut squash too. I can’t wait to try more recipes with farro – they remind me of honey smacks…the look, not taste…
I made this for my work lunches this week- so simple and delicious! It also helped balance out all the cookie dough balls I consumed Sunday and Monday…whoops.
Yummy! Just made this yesterday with spelt berries instead of farro, and also added feta instead of parmesan. Even better today.
This idea begot something fantastic today. I decided to substitute brown rice for the farro, spinach for the parsley, and I marinated the tomatoes instead of roasting them. It was the happiest lunch I’d had in a while. Thanks for the inspiration!