Farro

Farro or emmer wheat is an ancient variety of hard wheat. The grain is cultivated in Tuscany, Italy. Pearled farro (farro perlato) has had a portion of the outer bran removed so it cooks faster and does not require soaking. Pearled farro can be boiled in about 20 minutes or steamed in about 30. The grain is rich in fiber (10%), protein (15%), and magnesium.

Where To Buy Farro

Look for farro in well stocked grocery stores, for example Whole Foods Markets, Williams-Sonoma or Trader Joe's.  Costco stores often carry farro in large amounts which is great if you use this grain a lot.  You can also purchase it online from various sellers at Amazon.com. Bob's Red Mill Organic Farro. 

If you don't have farro you can substitute:

• Equal amounts of pearled barley
• OR - Use equal amounts of hard winter wheat (requires soaking and a longer cooking time)
• OR - Optionally use barley OR spelt
  **Note, cooking time for barley and spelt will vary from the cooking time required for farro so plan to adjust recipe cooking time accordingly.