farro

noun

far·​ro ˈfär-(ˌ)ō 

: the grain of an ancient wheat having glumes that tightly enclose the kernel

specifically : the grain of emmer, einkorn, or spelt that is cooked in liquid and used in various dishes (such as soups or salads)

We were making … farro, an ancient wheat variety that can be cooked risotto-style with broth, butter and Parmesan.

—Heidi Julavits

Soak 1 cup of farro overnight, then simmer with 3 cups water for 25-70 minutes …

—Gretchen Roberts

Farro, also called spelt, is available at health-food stores.

—Melissa Clark

Examples of farro in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Generally, farro is cooked like pasta — in a large pot with plenty of water until the farro has a slightly chewy texture. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 25 May 2024

Options like barley, farro, and couscous have hearty textures but also contain gluten. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 Oct. 2024

The Greek grains salad was a crunchy and zesty combo of farro, couscous, veggies and goat cheese. —Jessica Boehm, Axios, 30 July 2024

Quick-cooking, or pearled, farro can be ready in 10 minutes. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 25 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above