Photo: Brown Cannon III
Farro (emmer wheat) can be used instead of rice to make a creamy, nutty-tasting risotto--as long as you use the semi-pearled type (the seed's tough outer layer has been partly removed). This dish is good with whole, unpearled farro too, but will be tender-chewy, not creamy.
How to Make It
Step 1
Bring dried porcini and 8 1/2 cups water to a boil over high heat, covered. Remove from heat and let sit 1 hour. Lift mushrooms from soaking liquid and chop coarsely; set liquid and mushrooms aside.
Step 2
Meanwhile, melt butter with oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and farro and cook, stirring, until onion is translucent and farro turns toasty brown, about 7 minutes. Stir in 1 tsp. salt.
Step 3
Strain porcini soaking liquid through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a bowl. Pour 1 cup liquid into farro and cook, stirring, until nearly absorbed, about 5 minutes. Repeat until all liquid has been used and farro is tender, about 1 hour.
Step 4
Stir in thyme, parsley, reserved porcini, and cheese, and cook another few minutes to meld flavors. Season with salt to taste.
Step 5
*Find semipearled farro at amazon.com, or use regular farro: Soak 1 hour in 2 in. of water to cover, then drain and cook as directed--except add all the liquid at once (no amount of stirring will make it creamy, so save yourself the trouble).
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