Warm Farro with Tomatoes, Parmesan, and Basil

Warm Farro with Tomatoes, Parmesan, and Basil

With its nutty flavor and satisfying chew, farro is quinoa and couscous’ lesser-known (but equally worth knowing) sibling. This fantastic recipe, adapted for the Anyday from Smitten Kitchen’s One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes, is best enjoyed by itself, topped with a fried egg, or as a hearty side. Make sure to use pearled farro (see serving suggestion note) for a faster cooking time.

All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwaves and home kitchens to make sure they work — and work well.

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Select your microwave wattage in the dropdown. The cook times in this recipe will automatically change accordingly.

To find your microwave’s wattage, look at the front panel, the side of the door, in the back, in the user manual, or Google the model number. If both an input and output wattage are listed, use the output.

Wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. The lower the wattage, the longer the cook time.

When in doubt, start with less time — you can always add more.

700w

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Product Size

  • Small Dish
  • Medium Shallow
  • Large Shallow
  • Medium Deep
  • Large Deep

Prep Time

8 mins

Cook Time

18 mins

Free Time

for an episode of Schitt’s Creek

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (200g) pearled farro (see note)
  • 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) water
  • ¼ (50g) medium yellow onion, diced
  • ½ cup (75g) cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste
  • lemon juice, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • parmesan, grated, to taste
  • basil, thinly sliced

Preparation

  1. Combine farro, water, onion, tomatoes, olive oil, salt, and pepper in the Anyday dish. Cover with the lid (knob lifted).
  2. Cook in the microwave at Power Level 5

    Certain foods cook best in the microwave at lower power levels. 

    Different microwaves have different settings. See your microwave manual (or look it up online) to learn how to change your microwave’s power level.

    For many microwaves: enter the cook time, press the “Power” (or “Power Level”) button, and select a number between 1-10. Other microwaves may require selecting the Power Level first, and then entering the cook time.

    Microwaves list power levels in different ways. Here’s a guide to help you adjust:

    PL 10 = 100% = High (default)

    PL 9 = 90% = High

    PL 8 = 80% = Med-High

    PL 7 = 70% = Med-High

    PL 6 = 60% = Medium

    PL 5 = 50% = Medium

    PL 4 = 40% = Med-Low

    PL 3 = 30% = Med-Low

    PL 2 = 20% = Low

    PL 1 = 10% = Low

    You will know if the power level has been successfully changed if you hear periodic changes in the microwave’s tone after it begins cooking.

    for 18 minutes, or until farro is cooked through with a slight bite. Let rest for 5 minutes, allowing the farro to finish steaming evenly.
  3. Stir in lemon juice and butter. Garnish with a generous shower of parmesan cheese and basil.

Serving suggestions & tips

  • The type of farro you use here matters! Pearled farro has the husk and bran removed, giving it a milder flavor and faster cook time. By contrast, semi-pearled and whole grain farro will take longer to cook. If your farro package has a cook time of 20 minutes or less, it’s likely to be pearled farro. 
  • Adjust the power level by 1 as needed — increase if it’s taking longer than expected, or decrease if it’s bubbling over. 
  • This recipe is inspired by one of our favorites from Smitten Kitchen. Thanks for this one-pot wonder, Deb!
  • Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.