Torta Salata Di Farro Savory Farro Pie Recipes

TORTA SALATA DI FARRO - SAVORY FARRO PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 370 degrees F (180 C).
• Prepare the farro: Wash it well, picking out impurities such as bits of chaff, pebbles, or bad grains. In a medium saucepan, combine the farro with about 4 cups water and 2 teaspoons salt, then turn heat to high and bring it all to a boil.
• When it has come to a boil, reduce the temperature to medium low, cover, and let simmer until the farro is tender, about 30 minutes.
• Remove from heat, drain mixture well, then pour it all into a large ceramic or porcelain bowl and set aside to let cool.
• When cooled, combine it with the remaining ingredients except the butter and the bread crumbs.
• Use the butter and bread crumbs to lightly grease and coat a 9-inch pan, pour the farro mixture into it, and bake it in a 370 F (180C) oven for about 40 minutes.
• This will work well as a second course, with a tossed salad.
• Recipe adapted from Giada De Laurentiis' method of cooking farro and from a recipe in Luciano Migliolli's "Il Farro e le sue Ricette." Farro: Grain of the Legions Grano Farro has a long and glorious history - it is the original grain from which all others derive, and fed the Mediterranean and Near Eastern populations for thousands of years; somewhat more recently it was the standard ration of the Roman Legions that expanded throughout the Western World. Ground into a paste and cooked, it was also the primary ingredient in plus, the polenta eaten for centuries by the Roman poor.

SAVORY FARRO TART

Steps:

• Cook farro in a 2- to 3-quart pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 10 minutes; drain in a sieve and cool to room temperature.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Butter dish and lightly coat with bread crumbs, knocking out excess.
• Melt butter (2 tablespoons) in a small heavy skillet over low heat and cook garlic, stirring, 1 minute, then transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in farro, ricotta, whole egg, yolks, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until combined well. Spoon mixture into dish and bake until just set and top is pale golden, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool to warm on a rack. Cut into wedges and serve.
• *Available at farawayfoods.com.

MUSHROOM AND FARRO PIE

Steps:

• Make filling:
• Cover farro with cold water in a bowl and soak 30 minutes, then drain in a colander, discarding soaking water.
• Bring farro, water (3 cups), and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.
• While farro cooks, melt butter with oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat, then cook garlic and half of scallions, stirring frequently, 2 to 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until just softened, about 5 minutes. Add Madeira and simmer 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and stir in farro, then cool completely.
• Stir in ricotta, remaining scallions, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Roll out pastry while filling cools:
• If pastry is in 1 piece, cut into 2 equal pieces. Roll out each piece on a lightly floured surface into an 11-inch square. Stack squares on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet with a second sheet of parchment between them, then cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 30 minutes.
• Assemble and bake pie:
• Put a large baking sheet on rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Set aside top square of pastry on parchment. Spread cooled filling evenly over pastry on baking sheet, leaving a 1-inch border. Brush border with some of egg wash, and, using parchment, invert second square on top, lightly pressing to seal border. Brush top with remaining egg wash, then crimp border with a fork and trim with a pizza wheel or sharp knife.
• Cut a few small steam vents in top of pie and decoratively score pastry. Slide pie on parchment onto preheated baking sheet in oven and bake until puffed and deep golden brown, about 45 minutes.