You'll love this easy farro recipe with mushrooms and peas, creamy and packed with flavor from fresh thyme, garlic, and a little Parmesan cheese. Think of this as a farro risotto type dish, but with far less TLC than your typical risotto requires! This farro recipe is perfect as a vegetarian main next to some fresh salad, or serve it as a side next to your favorite protein (I've got some ideas below). You can also prepare it in advance and use as lunch for several days.
What is Farro?
Farro is nutty-flavored Mediterranean grain that has been in use since the time of ancient Egypt! And not only is it chockful of good-for-you nutrition--fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants--it is also hearty, deeply satisfying, and quite versatile. You'll find all sorts of ways to use farro year-round, from stews to salads (one of my favorites is this Mediterranean farro salad with shrimp and chickpeas) and more.
Because farro is chewier than Italian rice and doesn't release starch when cooking, it doesn't need constant tending. That's why, I personally like to use it as an easy alternative in dishes like risotto.
Farro Recipe with Mushrooms and Peas (Farro Risotto)
Today's farro recipe with mushrooms and peas is a risotto-like dish, only it does not require the kind of TLC traditional risotto would.
This is a perfectly filling, hearty farro recipe with mushrooms and peas. I used Italian pearled farro, which typically cooks in 20 minutes or so. And this can be made any time of the year, since we use frozen peas (no need to thaw!)
The draw to this farro recipe is in the flavors. To capitalize on farro's earthy flavor, I add green onions, fresh garlic, and thyme while keeping the spices to a minimum--just a pinch of sweet paprika for added depth. A little grated Parmesan and fresh mint leaves round finish this simple dish.
Serve this Farro Recipe as a side or vegetarian entree
For a light vegetarian main, this farro recipe will easily serve four people with a side of fresh Mediterranean salad or this hearty 3 Bean Salad. You can also serve it as a side next to your favorite protein-- salmon kabobs or lemon chicken are two good options.
How long will this farro recipe keep?
This farro recipe will keep well for 3 to 4 days, if refrigerated properly in airtight containers. Great solution for lunch! When you need to warm it up, just use a skillet over medium-low heat. It helps to add a little bit of water and stir regularly till warmed through.
If you love mushrooms and looking for more mushroom recipes, you might also like to check out my chicken and mushroom, this braised chicken thighs, or this delicious mushroom pasta.
More Recipes to Try:
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One-Pan Farro Recipe with Mushrooms and Peas
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: serves 4
Description
An easy Mediterranean one-pan farro recipe with mushrooms, peas, garlic, and fresh herbs!
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms,cleaned, trimmed and sliced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 tsp chopped garlic
- 1 cup Italian Pearled Farro
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 springs fresh thyme, leaves only
- Salt and pepper
- 2 ¼ cup vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
Instructions
- In a deep skillet with a lid (like this one), heat 2 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Add green onions, mushrooms and peas; saute for 3-4 minutes. Add fresh garlic and stir briefly until fragrant.
- Now add farro, sweet paprika, thyme, and a little salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Meanwhile, in a separate pot, boil the vegetable broth. Add the boiling broth to the farro mixture.
- Bring everything to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 20 minutes until the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat and add grated Parmesan and fresh mint leaves. Serve warm. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cook's Tip: As a vegetarian entree or main course, this recipe will serve 4. If served as a side next to your favorite protein such as salmon or chicken, it can serve 5 to 6 people.
- Cook's Tip: To serve as a vegetarian entree, consider adding a salad like this Mediterranean Salad or 3-Bean Salad. Or serve this farro recipe as a side next to your favorite protein.
- Leftovers? Store leftovers in the fridge in air-tight containers for 3 to 4 days. Warm over medium-low heat, adding a little water and stirring as needed.
- Recommended for this Recipe: Our Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil (from organically grown and processed Koroneiki olives!)
- Visit our store to browse our spices, olive oils and bundles!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Farro Recipe, farro risotto
*This post originally appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2017 and has been recently updated with new information and media for readers' benefit.
Doreen says
This dish paired beautifully with steak. I was out of green onion so I used shallots. Will definitely be making this again. Looking forward to your cookbook.
★★★★★
Suzy says
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Doreen!
Gayle says
This was very good. Alas I had no mint as that would have been a nice addition. Wish I’d thought to use cilantro. Next time I make it I will add the peas much later. My farro took quite a long time to cook and peas were way overdone. I could even have used 1/4-1/3 cup less broth.
★★★★
Suzy says
Thank you for your feedback, Gayle.
Ana says
Great recipe. As with others, I only added 2 cups of chicken broth. Didn't have enough peas, so I made up the difference with cooked chickpeas. Also added 1 Tbs. of butter at the end. We both loved it - a solid keeper. Thanks Suzy!!
Janet says
Made this tonight and my husband and I both loved it!!
Followed some of the hints of other comments and only used 2 cups of broth and added the peas the last 8 minutes of cooking the farrow.
I will definitely make this again and again!
Thank you for a good recipe
★★★★★
Suzy says
So glad you enjoyed it, Janet!
Tanner says
Added some morels & used their reconstituted water as the broth. Wonderful! Also used basil instead of mint since that’s what I had. Thank you for the inspiration for this great meal!
★★★★★
Suzy says
My pleasure, Tanner! So glad you enjoyed it!
Veronica says
I made this recipe with freekeh and it worked great!
★★★★★
Suzy says
Awesome! Thanks, Veronica!
Allyson Hicks says
Might have been the farro I used, but this more water than the farro could absorb, so I needed to drain it, and by then the peas were way over cooked. I’d recommend left water (whatever your package of farro says) and waiting until there’s 5-10 min of cook time left to throw in the peas. The flavor is good though!
★★★
Suzy says
Thank you for sharing, Allyson!
Sheri says
Made tonight. Did not have green onion in hand so used a regular yellow onion. Wasn’t sure of the mint but it truly does elevate this dish. Will most definitely make again!! Thank you!!
★★★★★
Suzy says
Awesome! Thanks, Sheri!
Selma Savage says
This is a superb recipe, the texture & taste of the farro is phenomenal. The fresh Parmesan & mint take it to another taste level. The only change I would make is to use only 2 cups of broth instead of 21//4....I needed to cook it for 35 minutes to absorb the broth! Great recipe! Thanks...
★★★★★
Suzy says
Thanks for sharing, Selma!
Ro says
Excellent flavor! Easy to make!
★★★★★
Nancy says
Absolutely delicious! The farro was cooked just right and the combination of flavors was wonderful. Thanks for sharing this.
★★★★★
Suzy says
Thanks, Nancy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Cinsy says
THIS.IS.AMAZING! Even before the mint and parmesan it was delicious. After adding the last two ingredients, it was over the top fantastic. Husband agrees, this goes into the regular rotation. Thank-you so much for this recipe 🙂
★★★★★
Suzy says
So glad you enjoyed it!!
Leslie says
This was delicious. It was beautiful too. I will definitely make again. Thanks for a great recipe.
★★★★★
Suzy says
My pleasure, Leslie! So glad you enjoyed it!
Christina Email Couture says
Do you cook the Farro first?
Suzy says
You can try, Christina. We prefer it this way.
Mali says
Quite excited to try out this dish, but there is no farro where I live. What can I replace it with?
Thank you!
Suzy says
Hi Mali! If you'd like to try another grain like barley, that might work.
Claire says
Looking forward to making this - sounds delicious! If I want to make it using "instant" Italian farro (comes in a bag into which you cut 2 slits and then microwave for 90 seconds), when would it be best to add this to the mix?
Suzy says
I can't advice for sure on this, Claire. But it would seem, you cook the farro first and then toss it in at step #3, and because it is already cooked, you would skip adding in the boiling water and cooking which is step #4.
Roz says
Did you try Amazon? Especially with the pandemic and my not wanting to go shopping, I've bought a host of things - including food related - from Amazon on-line.