If you love fried rice, but are looking for a healthier twist, try this Farro Fried Rice dish. The slightly nutty flavor of farro combines with classic veggies of corn, carrots, and peas, for a hearty, tasty Lunar New Year dish…or it's perfect for any dinner as well!
The Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year as some people call it, is coming up! Looking for a great Chinese food recipe that has a bit of a twist? The Farro Fried Rice recipe is simply the thing!
Have you cooked with farro?
We've been obsessed with farro for a couple of years now. We am always so excited when it's served at a restaurant. But for some reason, We haven't truly cooked with it at home…until now. We've cooked a few different dishes with farro now and can't believe We waited so long to cook with it at home!
What is farro?
Farro is an ancient grain that is soft, chewy, and satisfying. It looks a little like wheat berries.
It's heartier than quinoa and packed with more cholesterol-lowering fiber than rice. Farro has an absolutely tasty texture and slightly nutty flavor. It's also packed with vitamin B, zinc, iron, and more heart-healthy nutrients.
How do you cook with farro?
We think farro is especially tasty in salads, but you can also use it for risotto dishes, soups, or, as We used it here, as a substitute for rice in recipes!
Italians have been cooking with farro for centuries. It is said to have been found in the tombs of Egyptian Kings! So, when you make this recipe, you can say you've made a dish fit for a king! ;)
Tips for buying farro
The favorite farro to cook with is Bob's Red Mill Farro. It's about $5 per package at the local grocery store, and lasts a long time. The Italian Perlato (or Italian Pearl) farro is the easiest, in the opinion, to cook with because it doesn't need to soak overnight; if you buy whole grain farro, you'll need to soak those puppies overnight. We also simply ADORE the taste of the Village Harvest Italian Pearl Farro.
How to make farro fried rice
Growing up, the Filipino great-grandmother and the mother would cook different variations of Filipino fried rice. This recipe is akin to the more traditional, Americanized version of Chinese Fried Rice, but you can certainly adapt the ingredients to include your own favorite vegetables and meat. It can also easily be made as a vegetarian dish!
We start with a base of garlic, ginger, onions, corn, peas, and carrots in one large skillet, while We have the farro cooking in a separate pot. Once the farro is done cooking according to the package directions, you simply add it to the vegetable mixture and you're done!
More simple recipes
- Pressure-cooker Chicken Adobo
- Pork and Shrimp Wonton Recipe
- Simple Homemade Ramen
Thai Peanut Curry- Authentic Filipino Lumpia Recipe (Filipino Egg Rolls)
Farro "Fried Rice"
By Marlynn Schotland Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins Total Time: 40 mins Servings: 4 servings This farro "fried rice" is a healthier, but stilly hearty version of your favorite Chinese fried rice!Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked farro, which turns into 3 cups of cooked farro; Village Harvest Italian Pearled is the favorite variety
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped onions
- 2 garlic cloved, minced
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger, or 1/4 teasoon ground ginger, but it's not going to be the same, folks!
- 1 cup peeled, cubed carrots
- 1 cup peas
- 1 cup corn
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1½ cups shrimp, or chicken breast or pork loin that is cut into quite small pieces
Instructions
- Cook farro according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the onions, garlic, and ginger. Stir with a wooden spoon and sauté for one minute.
- Add the carrots, peas, and corn to the skillet, and stir well. Sauté all of the pretty veggies, stirring occasionally, for about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the soy sauce and sesame oil.
- Add your meat (shrimp, chicken, or pork) to the skillet and cook for 4-8 minutes, until the meat is fully cooked. We usually use cooked frozen shrimp that has been thawed, which takes about 5 minutes in the skillet. If you are using uncooked small pieces of of chicken breast or pork loin, you'll probably need to cook them for about 5-8 minutes.
- Once the meat is cooked, add the cooked farro. Stir and cook for another minute or two, so that the farro soaks up all of the tasty flavors in the skillet.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Calories: 457 kcal, Carbohydrates: 60 g, Protein: 30 g, Fat: 12 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 143 mg, Sodium: 1820 mg, Potassium: 786 mg, Fiber: 12 g, Sugar: 8 g, Vitamin A: 461 IU, Vitamin C: 26 mg, Calcium: 118 mg, Iron: 4 mgNutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you like farro dishes? Have you cooked with it at home or enjoyed a farro dish at a restaurant? If so, what was the dish?
