Farro Pasta With Nettles And Sausage Recipes

FARRO PASTA WITH NETTLES AND SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water for pasta and bring it to a boil.
• In a wide, deep skillet, heat the olive oil over a medium-high burner. Add the onion and a little salt, and let the onion begin to soften. Add the sausage meat, breaking it into rough pieces with a wooden spoon, and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are lightly browned and the sausage is done, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and tomato paste and stir well to coat. Turn off the heat.
• Salt the pasta water and begin cooking the pasta. When the pasta is nearly ready, reheat the onion and sausage mixture over a high burner. Add the nettles or greens to the pan along with 1/4 cup pasta water and stir until wilted and tender, about 2 minutes. Check the seasoning.
• Drain the pasta when al dente and mix with the skillet ingredients in a large warmed bowl. Serve with coarsely grated ricotta salata.

PASTA WITH STINGING NETTLES

Steps:

• Toast walnuts in a small skillet over medium heat until lightly browned. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain.
• Wearing dish gloves or disposable gloves, rinse nettles under running water to remove any dust or dirt. Cut off all the thick main stems.
• Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan. Drop nettles into the boiling water and cook, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Drain and rinse immediately under cold water, then drain again. Squeeze nettles gently to remove some of the excess water; they can be a little bit wet. Transfer nettles to a cutting board and chop.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a small skillet. Add garlic and cook until fragrant and translucent, without browning, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chopped nettles and cook, stirring, until heated through. Drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and mix in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Toss with pasta and serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

PASTA WITH FARRO

Steps:

• Try this twist on kasha varnishkes, a classic Jewish dish made with buckwheat and bow ties: Toast 1 cup farro in a saucepan over medium-high heat with olive oil. Add 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until the water is absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes. Meanwhile, cook 1 pound orecchiette as directed; drain. Brown 3 tablespoons butter; toss with the pasta and farro (or toss with walnut oil). Season with salt.

FARRO AND SAUSAGE PARMIGIANO

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the onion, season with salt and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 minutes. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up, until cooked through, about 7 minutes. Add two-thirds of the garlic, the dried oregano, crushed red pepper and fennel seeds. Cook until fragrant, about1 minute.
• Stir in the vinegar, then scrape into a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the farro, crushed tomatoes and 2 1/2 cups of water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high until the farro is tender, 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Stir in the scallions.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the panko and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add the parsley, lemon zest, fresh oregano and the remaining garlic. Cook, stirring, until the garlic is tender, 1 minute. Season with salt. Transfer to a plate.
• Preheat the broiler and position a rack 6 inches from the heat. Scrape the farro mixture into a 3-quart oval baking dish or 4 small baking dishes. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan and top with the mozzarella. Broil until the cheese is melted and starting to brown, about 5 minutes; rotate the baking dish halfway through broiling. Transfer to a rack and let stand for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the panko and serve.
• One Step To Make Ahead: The cooled panko can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature overnight.

SAUSAGE AND FARRO SKILLET WITH MUSHROOMS AND DELICATA SQUASH

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onion, and squash. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion and squash are softened slightly and sausages have browned on once side, about 5 minutes. Turn sausages and add frozen mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms have thawed, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in vegetable broth and farro; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until farro is tender and sausage is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes, adding hot water to the pan as needed to prevent the mixture from becoming too dry.
• Lower heat and stir in Pecorino Romano cheese. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.