Cheesy Baked Farro Recipes

FARRO WITH CHEESE AND HERBS

Steps:

• Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 9 by 13 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Set aside.
• Farro: In a large stockpot, bring the farro, water and salt to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat, cover the pot, and simmer until the farro is tender, about 25 to 30 minutes. Drain in a colander.
• Filling: In a large bowl mix together the cheeses, milk, herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper. Add the cooked farro and stir until coated. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
• Topping: Arrange the bread pieces on top of the farro mixture and drizzle liberally with olive oil.
• Bake for 15 minutes until the topping is golden. Cool for 5 minutes and serve.

CREAMY FARRO WITH CRISPY MUSHROOMS AND SOUR CREAM

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half the leeks and half the mushrooms, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are browned and crisped, 12 to 15 minutes. (They will start giving off moisture and steaming a little before this happens, so be patient.)
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer them to a medium bowl leaving any olive oil behind. (They will have absorbed the oil as they cook, and released it back as they crisp.) Add a bit more olive oil so there's another 1/4 cup or so in the pot. Cook the remaining leeks and mushrooms, adding them to the bowl with the other mushrooms.
• Without wiping the pot, add farro and season with salt and pepper. Cook over that same medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until farro is toasted on the outside (it will go from pale golden brown to a toastier golden brown), about 5 minutes. Add vegetable broth and 2 cups water; season with salt and pepper.
• Bring to a strong simmer and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until farro is fully cooked and most (but not all) of the liquid has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. It should still look a bit loose, like risotto or a porridge. Remove from heat and add half the chives.
• Toss dill, remaining chives and lemon zest together in a small bowl. To serve, season farro with salt and pepper and ladle into bowls. Top with sour cream, mushrooms and leeks, and dill mixture. Serve lemon wedges alongside for squeezing.