farro

If you're wondering how to branch out in the grain department, try this recipe for farro salad with roasted vegetables, from FitSugar reader Dara8182, who posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe group.

I adore farro. It is a chewy, fiber-filled grain that pairs beautifully with all sorts of dishes. It's high in protein and fiber, perfect to anchor a delicious dish of roasted vegetables. This recipe could not be simpler: chop up your favorite veggies, roast them and toss with farro. Simple, healthy, and filling, it's a great vegetarian dish that will fill you up without weighing you down.

Read more after the break.

Reader Dara8182 warms up to Fall with this fresh, filling soup recipe, posted in the Savory Sights group.

This soup is a warming and filling fall dish, using the best and healthiest fall crops, fresh cranberry beans (aka Barlotti beans) and kale. Add some crumbled chicken sausage and nutty farro and you have an incredibly flavorful meal! This recipe yields enough for some tasty lunches as well.

Get the full recipe and photos at Gen Y Foodie.

Want to share your favorite Autumn dish? Upload it into the Savory Sights community group! You could wind up featured here.

Farro is the latest ancient grain to make a mainstream comeback, and I've been cooking up a storm with the wheat variety, using it in place of rice to make "farrotto," adding it to soups, and utilizing it as the base for Asian-style vegetable bowls.

My favorite way to employ it during hot weather is with this ingenious seasonal salad by Melissa Clark. Start by toasting farro, until it's nutty and golden brown; toss in parsley, scallions, lemon juice, and cherry tomatoes, for a meatier riff on tabbouleh; then top with crumbled cheese fricos for a crispy, salty finish.

For more substance, I served this salad with a side of grilled shrimp and Italian salsa verde, but you could add other seafood like scallops or lump crabmeat. Or, as Melissa suggested, bits of salumi: "Cubes of pancetta or sopressata would be killer!" she told me. Great — I've got an excuse to make this again sometime soon. Keep reading for the basic recipe.

During Summer, we're always looking for new salad recipes. That's why we can't wait to try My Fare Foodie's farro salad with tuna.

Cook like a real Italian by barely cooking at all. Enjoy this healthy and filling salad in all of its simplicity by using the best and freshest ingredients you can find.

You can find the recipe on her blog. Interested in having your creations featured here? Upload you photos, recipes, and stories to the YumSugar Community!

If you're looking for a different way to incorporate whole grains into your diet, look no further than farro, an ages-old grain that's well on its way to making a mainstream comeback.

Also known as emmer, this grain, which is actually an ancient variety of wheat, originated in the Middle East. It was ubiquitous during the Roman Empire, and has since played a vital part in Italian cuisine — although it's just now starting to make an appearance elsewhere. Farro (which is largely grown in northern Italy) is high in fiber and low in gluten. It has a nutty, earthy flavor, and a supple texture that's chewy on the outside, with a firm center.

When purchasing farro, opt for the semi-perlato, or semi-pearled variety, which has more bran intact than its pearled counterpart. Simmer it for 35 minutes, then add it in place of other grains in your favorite dishes. (The grain, which doubles in volume when cooked, can be eaten hot or cold, and keeps in the refrigerator for three to four days.) Add farro to soups, stews, or salads, or experiment with dishes such as farro fried rice, hot cereal, or baked farro risotto. Where have you spotted farro lately?

Shake up your salad routine with a flavorful salad from FitSugar reader My Fare Foodie, who shared a recipe for an Italian tuna and farro salad — garnished with goodies like olives, tomatoes, and capers — in our Healthy Recipe group.

Cook like a real Italian by barely cooking at all. Enjoy this healthy and filling salad in all of its simplicity by using the best and freshest ingredients you can find.

Find the full recipe at My Fare Foodie's blog and don't forget to share your own recipes in our Healthy Recipe group in the FitSugar Community.

Last week I made a really yummy breakfast quinoa using a recipe from FitSugar reader leens824. Not only was it delicious, it reminded me that when it comes to warm, hearty breakfasts and whole grains, oatmeal isn't the only option. Check out some of the things I do at home to incorporate different whole grains into my breakfast.

• Brown rice. I love using leftover brown rice to make a bowl of warm porridge in the morning. I add a decent amount of lowfat milk to brown rice and cook that over low heat for about 20 minutes. When it's almost done, I add a touch of honey, cinnamon, raisins, and fruit.
• Whole grain, stone ground polenta. A fine grain polenta makes a great breakfast — it reminds me of a better version of Cream of Wheat. I make a really creamy polenta and then add milk, brown sugar, and crushed almonds to the mix. Delicious!
• Amaranth. If you're not a fan of quinoa but want a good source of protein, try amaranth. It tastes great warmed with maple syrup, pumpkin puree, raisins, and a little rice milk.
• Farro. Instead of using water to cook the farro, substitute lowfat coconut milk. Once a majority of the coconut milk is absorbed, add a pinch of salt and fresh mango.

What I hope you're getting from this is that almost any whole grain makes a great hot bowl of cereal in the morning. Just prepare the grain the way you normally would and then add all the fixings, much like you do with oatmeal. Or as I do in the case of farro, cook the grain in lowfat coconut or regular milk to give it an added dimension of flavor. While all whole grains are good sources of fiber, vitamin E, iron, manganese, and zinc, they are not created equally. Some have higher levels of protein — like amaranth and quinoa — but others are antioxidant powerhouses, like barley. Start experimenting with your morning cereal and see which one works best for you!