Farro with Beets, Olives and Walnuts
Chef Chris Crary
1 Kitchen
West Hollywood, Calif.
Beets are a vegetable that can be utilized root to stem. Chef Chris Crary at 1 Kitchen roasts smaller baby beets, then tosses them, along with their green tops, with cooked farro, toasted walnuts, olives and raisins for a nutritious Middle Eastern-accented bowl with big flavors. A honey vinaigrette ties the ingredients together.
Ingredients
Beets
1 bunch baby beets
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 bunch fresh thyme
½ bunch fresh rosemary
Beet tops
Salt, to taste
Farro mixture
½ cup farro or barley
2 cups water
Quartered roasted beets
4 oz. walnuts, toasted and chopped
2 oz. raisins
2 oz. pitted green olives, sliced
3 oz. red wine vinegar
3 oz. olive oil
2 oz. honey
Salt and pepper, to taste
Beet tops
Steps
1. Cut off beet tops and reserve for later use. Preheat oven to 350 F. In large bowl, toss beets with olive oil, thyme, rosemary and salt; layer on sheet pan. Cover with foil and roast beets 1 hour, or until tender.
2. Cool beets, remove skins and cut into quarters; set aside.
3. For farro mixture, cook farro in boiling water until al dente; cool. When cool, transfer to large bowl and toss with roasted beet quarters, toasted walnuts, raisins, olives, vinegar, oil and honey.
4. To serve, top farro mixture with uncooked beet tops and season with salt and pepper.
Photo courtesy of California Walnuts