Salad showcases grain worthy of fame
The overnight sensation takes time. Consider farro.
The chewy grain turns up everywhere. It stars in soup, salad and sweets. It doubles for rice, for barley, for pasta. It poses in the spring salad bristling with asparagus and fennel — Insta-glam.
But farro is no flash in the pan. The ancient form of wheat has been sustaining soldiers for thousands of years. Uncooked, the light-brown nubs once served as coin. Stockpiled, it counted as treasure. Simmered, it has bolstered generations of Italians.
With good reason. Farro is delicious, wholesome and hearty. And, unlike many a celebrity, worthy of its newfound fame.
Farro Salad
Preparation: 45 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes
Makes: 4 cups
1 cup farro • Kosher salt 8 spears asparagus, trimmed and peeled 3/4 cup finely sliced fennel (bulb and fronds) 1/4 cup finely sliced shallots 1/4 cup olive oil 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice • freshly ground black pepper 4 oz baby arugula 1 oz Parmesan cheese For farro in the hull, cover with cold water, stir and let soak 25 minutes. Drain and rinse. For hulled or “pearled” farro, skip the soak. Drain the farro, and scoop into a medium saucepan. Add 2 cups cold water and 1/2 tsp salt. Bring to a boil, lower heat, cover and simmer until tender (like rice), about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, settle asparagus in a wide skillet. Cover with cool water. Add 1 tsp salt. Simmer until bright green and crisp/tender, about eight minutes. Drain. Spread out asparagus on a clean kitchen towel to cool. Roll up to dry. Cut into one-inch lengths.
In a large serving bowl, toss together asparagus, fennel, shallots, 1/4 cup olive oil and the lemon juice. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and a few grinds of pepper.
Scrape cooked farro into the serving bowl and toss. Let rest 10 minutes. Add arugula and toss. Add salt if you like. Using a vegetable peeler, carve on curls of Parmesan. Enjoy at room temperature.