Where To Find Farro In The Grocery Store
There is an emerging trend to eat organic healthy or natural foods as part of the diet lifestyle change that more people are getting drawn to. Many stores, and especially grocery stores, have an organic food produce section where you will find most healthy whole grains. If you are wondering where to find farro in the grocery store, try looking in the whole grain aisle. If you miss it, look out for the organic cereals shelves in the store. Sometimes you may also find it next to healthy rice blends aisle.
What Is Farro?
Farro is a flavor-full, high fiber, and full of medieval protein whole grain that is similar to barley or brown rice but is much larger and longer in shape. It has low cholesterol, packed with antioxidants, vitamins A, B, C & E, and minerals, which are beneficial for a healthy body. For those with gluten allergies, farro is a good grain alternative as it has low gluten.
With origins in the far East and the Mediterranean, Farro is known to be the oldest grain to be cultivated for human consumption. It has been popular in Italy for years and has recently become quite common in the US and other regions around the world.
Farro has a nutty flavor and is often used as a substitute for brown rice or pasta. It is mainly grown in Northern and Central Italy. Often, it can be easy to confuse it with spelt, which is a completely different kind of grain despite it looking almost the same as farro.
Health Benefits of Farro
Farro is a chockful of nutrients, and they come with a hoard of benefits to the body.
- It is especially good for people with diabetes.
- Farro is healthy for the heart and brain.
- It has high fiber content, which is good for digestion.
- It is also a low-calorie carbohydrate and thus fills the body quickly, which in turn can help someone looking to lose weight or avoiding more weight gain.
Where Can I Buy Farro?
There are many grocery stores in the US that stock farro. Check out these stores.
Your local healthy produce grocery store
Most individually owned natural food stores stock farro and sell either in bulk or packaged.
Trader Joe’s.
If you are wondering where to find farro in the grocery store when shopping at Trader Joe’s, the dry grains and pasta aisle is where it is.
Amazon
For bulky orders, Amazon is an ideal place to shop for farro. Here you can choose different brands and compare prices easily. Here is my favorite farro brand.
Target
When at Target head over to stocks farro in the pasta and grains aisle.
Walmart
Find budget-friendly farro at your nearest Walmart in the grains aisle.
Middle Eastern markets
Packed farro and purchases in bulk can be easily found in middle eastern ethnic markets in your neighborhood. (if they are there)
How To Cook Farro
There are so many dishes you can make with farro. With a nutty flavor and a chewy texture, you can use it for breakfast, to make salads, soups or as starch in a meal.
There are several types of processed farro;
- Farro in the US is mostly sold pearled. Pearled means that the bran and the hard-outer layer of the whole grain have been removed. Pearled farro is easier to cook as it shortens the cooking time.
- Whole farro has the bran intact and hence will take longer to cook. However, it has the most nutritional value and flavor.
- Semi-pearled farro has some bran left and is commonly used in Italy. However, when compared to pearled farro, it contains more nutrients.
Farro is cooked the same way as rice, let it simmer in water in a closed pan till all the water is absorbed. The cooking time will differ depending on the type of farro you use. When using Whole farro, it is always better to soak it overnight to shorten your cooking time.
You can follow this simple farro recipe:
- Boil 2.5 to 3 cups of water in a pot.
- Add 1 cup of farro and preferred herbs, if any, cover the pot and leave it to simmer.
- If using whole farro, which was soaked overnight, let it simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Pearled or semi-pearled farro does not need to be soaked and should simmer for 20-30 minutes.
- Once it is well cooked, serve it with a salad, soup, or casserole of your choice.
Additional tips,
- Toast farro grain in a pan to enhance its nutty flavor and color.
- When in a hurry to prepare a meal, you can use a rice cooker for faster results.
Delicious and Easy Farro Recipes
- Mediterranean Farro Salad recipe
This fresh and flavourful salad includes pan-seared chicken thighs, farro, cucumber, red onion, tomatoes, green olives, and parmesan cheese. It’s the perfect and healthy dinner for the whole family.
- Tuscan Farro and Bean Soup
Puree beans and farro for a delicately chewy yet delicious and fun soup. A hearty and filling soup for those cold nights in winter.
- Butternut squash and farro casserole
Butternut squash is creamy and mixed with farro and other favorite ingredients; the texture is rich and fulfilling. This all-in-one dish is great for a large family meal.
- Warm farro cereal bowl
This vegan breakfast is plant-based, rich in fiber and healthy nutrients. Farro is used as the base of the warm and satisfying cereal meal. It is then topped with toasted pecans, dried figs, cinnamon, and apple chunks. The perfect breakfast on a cold winter morning.
How To Store Farro
Uncooked pearled and semi-pearled farro can be stored in its unopened package in the pantry for up to 3 months. Immediately you open the box, keep the remaining grains in a sealed airtight container away from direct light and moisture.
For whole farro, store it in a well-sealed container, in a cool, dry, low light pantry for up to a year. Cooked leftover farro can be saved in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator to be consumed within three days.
Conclusion
We hope next time you want nutritious grain , you won’t have to worry where to find farro in the grocery store. Farro is a highly nutritious grain, rich in protein and fiber. Most importantly, it has more calcium than most grains, which is good for the heart, brain, and nerves. The rich calcium nature of farro helps in maintaining strong, healthy bones. Enjoy this great grain that has gained popularity with health-conscious individuals and gourmet restaurants all over the world.
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