Creamy Farro Risotto Recipe: How to Make Farro Risotto
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Jun 14, 2022 • 2 min read
This ancient grain risotto—featuring farro as a key ingredient—is a nutty, hearty alternative to the classic Italian dish. Learn how to make farro risotto.
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What Is Farro Risotto?
Farro risotto is a twist on the Italian creamy rice dish substituting farro for the typical Arborio rice—a rounded, short-grain rice variety with a high starch content that gives the dish its signature creamy consistency. An ancient grain popular in Mediterranean cuisine, cooked farro looks and tastes similar to barley, but with a more chewy texture and caramel notes. When cooks prepare farro with traditional risotto ingredients—including broth, butter, white wine, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese—the result is a filling, flavorful entrée or side dish with a nutty flavor.
4 Tips for Making Farro Risotto
Follow these simple tips for making the best farro risotto possible:
- 1. Add the stock slowly. Adding stock in small portions allows the farro to slowly absorb the liquid while emitting its starches to make the dish creamy. Wait until the farro completely absorbs one portion of stock before adding more.
- 2. Heat up your stock. Warm the stock in a small saucepan before adding it to the grains. Adding cold or room-temperature stock to the hot pot of farro will cool the ingredients down and interfere with the cooking process.
- 3. Cook the grains al dente. Overcooking farro risotto results in a porridge-like texture, rather than the ideal chewy one. Taste the dish periodically throughout the cooking process until it is al dente, then remove the pot from the heat. It will continue cooking in the residual heat.
- 4. Experiment with additions. Customize any farro risotto recipe with your favorite vegetables, spices, herbs, and dairy products. Incorporate additional veggies, like chopped carrots, celery, asparagus, and tomatoes. Add heavy cream, unsweetened coconut milk, or half-and-half toward the end of cooking for a creamy dish. Add spices and fresh herbs to the sauce to adjust its overall flavor.
Creamy Farro Risotto Recipe
makes
prep time
10 mintotal time
45 mincook time
35 minIngredients
- 1
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the stock to a low simmer. Once the stock is simmering, reduce to medium-low heat.
- 2
Add olive oil and butter to a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- 3
When the butter melts, add the shallots and sauté until translucent, about 2–3 minutes.
- 4
Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- 5
Add the farro to the butter and shallots, and stir to coat. Toast the farro in the mixture for 4–5 minutes, until golden brown.
- 6
Add the white wine to the farro mixture, stirring until the grains absorb all of the liquid.
- 7
Add 1 cup of the hot chicken stock to the pan. Stir the mixture until the farro absorbs all of the stock. Continue adding the remaining stock, 1 cup at a time, until the grains absorb all of the cooking liquid.
- 8
Stirring frequently, cook the farro while adding stock incrementally until the grains are tender but still slightly firm, about 20–25 minutes.
- 9
Remove the pot from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese and lemon juice. Season the farro risotto with salt and pepper to taste.
- 10
Divide the farro risotto into bowls and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
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