How to Make Crispy Farro Cakes - A Step-by-Step Guide

Craving a delicious and hearty vegetarian meal that's also easy to make? Look no further than crispy farro cakes. These savory cakes are not only packed with flavor and texture, but they're a great way to enjoy the nutty and wholesome goodness of farro, a type of ancient grain that has been making a comeback in modern cuisine. Whether you're a vegetarian or simply looking to incorporate more whole grains into your diet, these crispy farro cakes are the perfect choice for a satisfying meal.

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Ingredients

  • 3 cups water
  • 1 cup farro, not rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • ½ cup finely diced onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup finely diced red bell pepper
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 ounce freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil for frying

Information

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 53 mins
  • Additional Time: 1 hr 10 mins
  • Total Time: 2 hrs 18 mins
  • Servings: 6
  • Yield: 6 servings

  • Place water, farro, and salt in a large pot. Stir in thyme, onion, and garlic. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until farro is very tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Drain well for about 10 minutes (do not rinse). Remove sprigs of thyme.
  • Transfer farro to a large bowl. While farro is still hot, add bell pepper, black pepper, grated cheese, egg, and cayenne pepper. Mix thoroughly; lightly tamp down. Allow mixture to come to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 1 hour.
  • Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Pack an ice cream scoop with farro mixture and turn out onto hot skillet. (Because there are no binders like flour or breadcrumbs, the cakes are almost impossible to form with your hands.) Gently press down farro cakes to slightly flatten them. After a minute or so when cakes are frying nicely, reduce heat to medium. Continue cooking the first side until you can see the bottom turning brown and a thick crust forming, 4 to 5 minutes. Do not flip until a crisp brown crust has formed.
  • Flip cakes and continue frying over medium heat until second side forms a crispy crust, 4 or 5 minutes.
  • Nutrition

    149 cal.

    • Total Fat: 4g
    • Saturated Fat: 1g
    • Cholesterol: 35mg
    • Sodium: 1050mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 25g
    • Dietary Fiber: 1g
    • Total Sugars: 1g
    • Protein: 7g
    • Vitamin C: 10mg
    • Calcium: 75mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 201mg