Baked Farro Butternut Squash Food

BAKED FARRO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the bacon on a baking rack set on a sheet pan and bake it for 20 to 30 minutes, until browned (it won't be crisp). Cut the bacon in very large dice.
• Meanwhile, in a small (9-inch) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, heat the olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, until tender and starting to brown. Add the thyme, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook for one minute. Add the farro and chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Place the squash on top of the farro mixture, cover, and bake in the same oven with the bacon for 30 minutes, until the squash and farro are tender. Check once during cooking and add a little chicken stock if it's dry.
• Sprinkle the bacon and Parmesan on the squash and farro and bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, until most of the liquid evaporates, the farro and butternut squash are tender, and the cheese has melted. Serve hot directly from the pot.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH, KALE AND FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Put the squash and red onion on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the oil and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with your hands to coat well and spread out on the baking sheet so they don't steam. Roast, tossing halfway through, until the squash is fork-tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Put the raisins in a shallow bowl and pour the vinegar over them. Soak, tossing them every now and then, for at least 15 minutes. Drain the vinegar into another small bowl, pressing down on the raisins to squeeze as much vinegar out as possible. Add mustard, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste to the vinegar. Drizzle in the remaining 3 tablespoons oil. Whisk until thick and emulsified. Set aside.
• To assemble the salad, in a large bowl, add the farro, chicken, cheese, walnuts, raisins, squash and red onions, kale, dressing, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss together until evenly coated with dressing. This is one of those salads that gets better as it sits.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND FARRO SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Drizzle the squash with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread into an even layer on a baking sheet and roast until light golden brown and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rinse the farro and place in a medium saucepot. Add 2 cups water, the cider, bay leaves and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until tender, 15 to 30 minutes. Drain and cool.
• Whisk together the oil, vinegar, Dijon, honey and orange zest and juice in a large bowl, then season with salt and pepper. Add the farro, roasted squash, arugula, parsley, pistachios and Parmesan and toss until everything is well incorporated. Once everything is combined, taste for seasoning, adding additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve at room temperature.

FARRO, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, AND ARUGULA SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cook the farro according to the package instructions and let cool.
• Put the raisins in a shallow bowl and pour the vinegar over them. Soak, tossing them every now and then, for at least 15 minutes. Drain the vinegar into another small bowl, squeezing the raisins to remove any excess.
• Meanwhile, put the squash and shallots on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil over them. Toss well with your hands to coat. Season with salt and pepper and roast, tossing halfway through, until the squash is soft and the shallots are beginning to brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the mustard into the reserved vinegar. While whisking, add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a slow stream until thick and emulsified. Season the dressing with the cayenne and salt and pepper to taste.
• To assemble the salad, in a medium bowl, toss the farro, squash and shallots, raisins, cheese, and walnuts together until combined. Pour the dressing over the salad, season with salt and pepper, and toss until evenly coated with dressing. Just before serving, fold in the arugula and finish with a final drizzle of olive oil and a final crack of black pepper.

BAKED FARRO & BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• In a dutch oven saute onion in the oil & butter for 6-9 minutes until onion starts to brown.
• Add Thyme, salt & pepper and cook for one minute.
• Add Farro and stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes.
• Add squash on top of mixture, cover and place in the oven for 20 minutes (until tender).
• Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and bake uncovered for 15 minutes (until most of the liquid has evaporated and cheese melted.
• if not serving the same day, refrigerate for up to 2 days and warm before serving.

FARRO WITH ROASTED SQUASH, FETA AND MINT

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Prepare the squash: In a large bowl, mix together olive oil, sugar, cinnamon, salt, pepper and cayenne. Add squash and toss well to coat with the spiced oil. Lay the squash pieces out flat on one or two rimmed baking sheets.
• Roast squash until the bottoms are golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully turn the pieces over and continue to roast until tender, another 10 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the farro: In a medium pot, bring the apple cider, 2 cups water and the salt to a simmer. Add farro and simmer until water is absorbed and the farro is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. If the liquid evaporates before the farro is done, add a little more water. Or, if there's still liquid in the pot when the farro is done, drain it.
• In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, garlic and pepper. Whisk in olive oil. Add farro and toss well, adding more oil or salt, or both, if needed.
• To serve, spoon the farro on a platter and top with the squash, feta, mint or arugula, or both, and a drizzle of olive oil.