Rustic Italian Soup With Farro Recipes

TUSCAN FARRO SOUP

Steps:

• Put oil in a large, deep saucepan over medium heat; a minute later add onion, celery, carrots, a large pinch of salt and some pepper. Cook until vegetables are glossy and onion is softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, and stir; add farro, beans, tomatoes and stock, and stir.
• Bring to a boil, then adjust heat so mixture simmers steadily. Cook until farro and beans are tender, at least an hour, adding stock or water as necessary if mixture becomes too thick. Stir in parsley and basil (if using), then cook another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve with lots of Parmesan.

RUSTIC ITALIAN TORTELLINI SOUP

Steps:

• Crumble sausage into a Dutch oven; add onion. Cook and stir over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, water and tomatoes. Bring to a boil., Add tortellini; return to a boil. Cook for 5-8 minutes or until almost tender, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; add the spinach, basil, pepper and pepper flakes. Cook 2-3 minutes longer or until spinach is wilted and tortellini are tender. Serve with cheese if desired.Freeze option: Place individual portions of cooled soup in freezer containers and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add broth if necessary.

TUSCAN FARRO AND BEAN SOUP

Steps:

• Pick over and rinse beans. Soak in cold water to cover by 2 inches at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours. Alternatively, quick-soak beans. Drain well.
• Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, carrots, celery, and garlic, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in water, drained beans, tomato, parsley, sage, and thyme and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cook at a bare simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally and adding more water if necessary to keep beans covered, until beans are tender, 2 to 3 hours.
• Discard thyme sprigs, then blend mixture in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), transferring to a large bowl. Return soup to pot and bring to a boil. Add farro and salt, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until farro is tender (it will be chewy like barley), about 30 minutes. Stir in pepper and serve drizzled with additional oil.

RUSTIC FARRO SOUP WITH SAUGAGE AND MUSHROOMS RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• In a soup pot, heat 1/4 cup of the oil over medium high heat, then add the carrots, celery, onions and garlic and cook until onions become translucent. Add sausage. When it starts to brown, add mushrooms and continue to cook, stirring occasionally. When mushrooms have released most of their liquid, add tomatoes, wine, broths, crushed red pepper and farro. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until farro is almost tender, about 45 to 60 minutes. (You can add more liquid if a thinner soup is desired.) Add escarole, salt and pepper. Simmer for approximately 3 minutes, then add thyme. Serve soup hot, with a drizzle of olive oil and a bit of cheese sprinkled over the top.

ITALIAN RUSTICO SOUP

Steps:

• Cook elbows according to package directions; drain (al dente is the best).
• Heat oil in 4-quart Dutch oven or large pot.
• Add spinach (or Escarole) onion and garlic; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes or until onion is tender.
• Add remaining ingredients except cheese; heat to boiling.
• Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in cooked elbows and simmer 5 more minutes.
• Ladle in bowls and sprinkle with cheese.
• Serve with warm crusty Italian bread.