Farro Side Dish with Mozzarella
Simple to make yet incredibly satisfying, this farro side dish will quickly become a favourite. Try it today and savour the taste of gourmet simplicity!
Why You’ll Love Farro Side Dish with Mozzarella
We’re often asked what is a good side dish to make with dinner that is not rice, pasta or potatoes.
This farro side dish with mozzarella is your answer! This hearty and nutritious recipe combines nutty farro with tender lentils, fresh herbs, and a delightful crunch from cashews and pecans.
The creamy buffalo mozzarella adds a luxurious touch, giving each bite a burst of flavour and texture. With a zesty squeeze of fresh lemon, this dish is perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a wholesome family dinner.
Only the farro requires cooking; everything else is just chopped and folded into the grain. It’s the kind of side dish that doesn’t overwhelm you with strong flavours and would complement many main dishes well.
Is Farro Grain Gluten Free?
No, farro is not gluten free. Farro is a type of ancient wheat grain, and like all wheat products, it contains gluten. Therefore, it is not suitable for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
For those looking for gluten free alternatives, consider using grains like quinoa, brown rice, millet, or buckwheat, which can often be substituted in recipes that call for farro.
Our tricolour quinoa salad with roast vegetables, vegan millet recipe in saffron broth or turmeric rice recipe [fluffy & fragrant!] would work best.
Is Farro Grain Keto Friendly?
Farro is not considered keto-friendly. The ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrates, typically allowing only about 20-50 grams of carbs per day. Farro, being a grain, is relatively high in carbohydrates.
One cup of cooked farro contains approximately 34 grams of carbohydrates, which is a significant amount for someone following a strict keto diet.
Recipe Overview
Flavour/Texture: The farro side dish with mozzarella offers a delightful blend of flavours and textures. The nutty, chewy farro forms the backbone of the dish, complemented by creamy, mildly tangy buffalo mozzarella.
Fresh parsley, marjoram, and tarragon add an aromatic quality, while lemon juice brings a zesty brightness. Savoury lentils and olive oil enhance the dish, and the crunchy cashews and pecans add a rich complexity.
This combination of flavours and textures makes the dish both intriguing and satisfying, perfect for a unique and delicious side dish.
Ease: This is one of the easiest farro dishes you can make. The simplicity of the farro is enhanced with fresh ingredients such as herbs, nuts, and cheese. If you have never had farro before, this would be a good start.
Time: 25-minute recipe of which 20 minutes is just cooking the farro. Not much prep required either.
Ingredients
These are the ingredients you need for farro side dish with mozzarella:
Farro: Use pearled farro for a faster cook of 20 minutes. You should be able to get farro in your supermarket in the rice/grain section. Otherwise head to a fine grocer, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean supermarket.
For more leftover farro, try our farro kale salad or warm farro salad.
Broth: Using vegetable broth for this farro side dish to make it vegetarian. You can use chicken broth, too, if you want a stronger flavour.
Lentils: Using canned green lentils to make this recipe easier and faster. No overnight soaking of dried lentils required.
Herbs: Adding flat leaf parsley, marjoram, and tarragon. Adding some major herbs for a fragrant farro side dish.
Nuts: Adding chopped cashews and pecans for additional nutty flavours and crunch.
Lemon: A squeeze of fresh lemon always brightens up a dish. No exception here.
Buffalo mozzarella: Get good quality cheese to enhance the side dish. Drizzle some olive oil on the top for a sublime finish.
Variations and Substitutions
Alternative grain: If you can’t find farro but love the sound of this recipe, you can try quinoa, barley, or brown rice for a different texture and flavour while keeping the dish hearty.
Lentil replacement: Replace lentils with chickpeas, black beans, or cannellini beans to change up the protein and texture.
Other herbs: Experiment with different herbs such as basil, cilantro, or mint instead of marjoram and tarragon for a new flavour profile. Sometimes the tarragon can be very strong so these are good alternatives.
Other nuts: Use walnuts, pine nuts, or sunflower seeds in place of cashews and pecans for a different kind of crunch.
Buffalo mozzarella substitute: Swap buffalo mozzarella with fresh burrata, feta, or goat cheese for a different creamy element.
Greens: If you would like to bulk up this farro side dish, incorporate roasted vegetables like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, or zucchini. Or you can add fresh spinach, arugula, or kale to increase the nutritional value and add a layer of freshness.
Spices: Include spices such as smoked paprika, cumin, or coriander to introduce new flavour dimensions.
Instructions
Step by step instructions for how to make farro side dish with mozzarella:
Rinse the farro thoroughly. Place in a saucepan and add water and broth.
Bring to a boil and then simmer. For pearled farro, boil for 10 to 20 minutes; semi-pearled farro, 20 to 30 minutes and for whole farro, up to 40 minutes. If there is excess liquid after farro is cooked to al dente, discard.
Roughly chop nuts.
Pick leaves off the herbs.
In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients except the buffalo mozzarella. Add the lemon juice and olive oil. Mix until well combined.
Place in a serving bowl or plate.
Add the buffalo mozzarella into either whole or torn. Drizzle some droplets of olive oil and some herbs on top of the cheese.
Serve.
How to Make This Side Dish Perfectly [Expert Tips]
Cooking farro perfectly: Thankfully farro is one of the easiest grains to cook. Be sure to know which type of farro you have to determine the cook time in the instructions below.
Using broth: As this farro side dish is bland in terms of flavour, cooking it in broth is essential for great taste. You don’t have to make your own broth. Just purchase good ready-made stock and it will taste great.
Roast nuts for extra flavour: Lightly toast the cashews and pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant. This enhances their flavour and adds a delightful crunch.
Fresh herbs are key: Use fresh parsley, marjoram, and tarragon for the best flavour. Add them just before serving to retain their vibrant taste and aroma.
Season properly: Taste the dish as you go and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Proper seasoning brings out the best in all the ingredients.
Handle mozzarella gently: Use high-quality buffalo mozzarella and add it just before serving. Tear it into pieces rather than cutting for a more rustic and appealing look.
Serve at the right temperature: This dish can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature. If serving later, allow it to come to room temperature and toss again with a bit of olive oil and fresh herbs to refresh the flavours.
What To Serve with This Side Dish
What to serve with farro side dish with mozzarella? Try these delicious main dish recipes:
We love recommending a ton of different mains to serve with our sides. Going down the classic route, do try this meatloaf or for a wholesome cornish hen with homemade stuffing.
The farro side would also make a great companion to this smoked tri-tip recipe. Can’t go wrong with it’s garlicky basting sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Farro is not considered kosher for Passover. During Passover, observant Jews avoid chametz, which includes leavened products made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt. Farro, being a type of wheat, falls into this category and is therefore not permissible for Passover consumption.
For a grain alternative that is kosher for Passover, you might consider using quinoa, which is often accepted as it is not one of the grains that can become chametz. Always check with a reliable kosher certification for Passover to ensure the product meets all requirements.
Yes, you can. As this side dish doesn’t have other cooked elements, it can easily be done ahead of time. If you intend to serve at room temperature, just mix through. If you wish to heat it up, place in the microwave for a minute and then fold the fresh herbs in after.
Both emmer wheat and farro are often used interchangeably.
The term “farro” can refer to three different species of hulled wheat: spelt, emmer, and einkorn. But usually when we talk about farro, it is usually emmer that we are referring to.
If you’re looking for a dish that combines rich, nutty flavours with a delightful mix of textures, this farro side dish with mozzarella is a must-try!
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Farro Side Dish with Mozzarella
Ingredients
Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.
Instructions
- Rinse the farro thoroughly.
- Place in a saucepan and add water and broth. Bring to a boil and then simmer. For pearled farro, boil for 10 to 20 minutes; semi-pearled farro, 20 to 30 minutes and for whole farro, up to 40 minutes. If there is excess liquid after farro is cooked to al dente, discard.
- In a mixing bowl, add all the ingredients except the buffalo mozzarella. Mix until well combined.
- Place in a serving bowl or plate.
- Add the buffalo mozzarella into either whole or torn. Drizzle some droplets of olive oil and some herbs on top of the cheese.
- Serve.
Notes
- If you can’t find farro but love the sound of this recipe, you can try quinoa, barley, or brown rice for a different texture and flavour while keeping the dish hearty.
- You can replace lentils with chickpeas, black beans, or cannellini beans to change up the protein and texture.
- If you’d like other herbs, experiment with different herbs such as basil, cilantro, or mint instead of marjoram and tarragon for a new flavour profile. Sometimes the tarragon can be very strong, so these are good alternatives.
- Use walnuts, pine nuts, or sunflower seeds in place of cashews and pecans for a different kind of crunch.
- Swap buffalo mozzarella with fresh burrata, feta, or goat cheese for a different creamy element.
- If you would like to bulk up this farro side dish, incorporate roasted vegetables like cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, or zucchini. Or you can add fresh spinach, arugula, or kale to increase the nutritional value and add a layer of freshness.
- Include spices such as smoked paprika, cumin, or coriander to introduce new flavour dimensions.
Nutrition
*Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.
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Farro with mozzarella is the perfect side dish, I am going to make it again. Perfect treat.
Glad you liked the recipe!
Yum! We eat a lot of lentils at home, mainly in soups and stews, so when I saw this salad with mozz I had to try it. Love the mix of textures and flavors. So unique and deliciouss.
I absolutely love farro and am always looking for ways to cook with it. This was fantastic and the addition of burrata was delicious!
We love it to! Glad you found some inspiration
I love, love farro! And topping it with mozzarella pushes it over the top—so yummy!
So happy you loved it! We’re farro lovers too!
This farro salad was a dream! I love the different textures in this salad, especially that smooth mozzarella! A great find!
Thank you!