This Instant Pot farro recipe comes out perfectly tender and chewy every time! It’s a totally hands off method for cooking this whole grain.
Looking to cook a pot of farro? If you’ve got a pressure cooker, it’s perfect for whole grains. And this Instant Pot farro comes out perfectly tender and chewy every time! As we’ve confessed before, Alex and I used to be Instant Pot skeptics. Yep, we didn’t think this gadget was worth our time. But we discovered that you can cook up all sorts of veggies, grains and beans in your Instant Pot, which is perfect if you eat a mostly vegetarian or plant based diet like we do!
We’ve been honing Instant Pot methods for grains like quinoa, brown rice, and white rice. And now we’ve got this method for farro! You can use it as a healthy side dish, or as part of a larger meal. We made it for this Farro with Mushrooms & Parmesan and it was incredible. Ready to cook?! (Er, pressure cook?)
What is farro?
Farro is a whole grain that’s chewy, with a texture similar to barley. You can buy this ancient grain whole, semi-pearled, or pearled; pearled farro takes the least amount of time to cook and is likely what you’ll find at the store. You can cook farro on the stove, but it also cooks up nicely in an Instant Pot. If you buy whole or semi-pearled, make the farro cook a little faster, you can soak it for an hour or overnight to speed things up. However, we’d recommend using pearled farro in your farro recipes.
When Alex and I started eating farro 10 years ago, it was a bit tricky to find. These days, you can find farro at your local grocery or online.
Get it! Grab a bag of farro.
Is farro gluten free?
Farro is made from wheat, so it is not gluten free. Make sure to stay away from farro if you have a strict gluten free diet. If you’re looking for a gluten free substitute for farro, you can use one of the following:
How to make Instant Pot farro (basic steps)
Fact: Instant Pot farro is not faster than the stovetop method. Why we love it? It’s totally hands off, meaning you don’t have to babysit it like you might a normal pot on the stove. It also frees up the stove so you can use it to make the main meal. It might not sound revolutionary, but Alex and I love throwing grains into the Instant Pot and then using our main attention for the rest of the meal.
Here are the basic steps on how to make Instant Pot farro:
- Place farro, water and salt in the Instant Pot.
- Pressure cook on High for 7 minutes.
- Natural release for 7 minutes. Open the Instant Pot and drain any excess liquid.
And that’s it! It’s a terrifically easy method: and it’s easy to remember, too!
How to serve farro
How to serve farro? We love using it as an easy side dish, but you can also use it as part of a main dish. Here are some of our favorite ways to use farro:
- With herbs as a side dish: If you’re using it as a side dish, season with garlic and herbs like in this Basic Farro recipe. Serve with salmon or shrimp.
- In a salad: This Farro Salad pairs the chewy grain with crunchy vegetables and a zingy vinaigrette.
- With mushrooms & Parmesan: This Farro with Mushrooms is just WOW.
- Use instead of rice. Season the farro with salt and use it instead of rice with a curry or stir fry.
- In a grain bowl: This Farro Roasted Vegetable Salad is full of tender roasted veggies and melty cheese.
- In a soup: Throw chewy farro into a soup like this Farro & Brussels Sprouts Soup. For this one, you don’t even need to cook it first!
This Instant Pot farro recipe is…
Vegetarian, plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan.
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Instant Pot Farro
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: About 4 cups 1x
Description
This Instant Pot farro recipe comes out perfectly tender and chewy every time! It’s a totally hands off method for cooking this whole grain.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups farro
- 2 ¼ cups water
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- *If serving as a side, season with garlic and herbs like in this Basic Farro recipe
Instructions
- Add the farro, water, and salt to the Instant Pot and stir. Lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Place the pressure release handle (vent) in the “Sealing” position.
- Cook on high pressure for 7 minutes: Press the Pressure Cook button, making sure the “High Pressure” setting is selected, and set the time. Note that it takes about 5 minutes for the pot to “preheat” and come up to pressure before it starts cooking. (During cooking, avoid touching the metal part of the lid.)
- Natural release for 7 minutes: After the Instant Pot beeps, set a timer and wait to let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure. Then vent any remaining steam by moving the vent to “Venting”, covering your hand with a towel or hot pad. Never put your hands or face near the vent when releasing steam. (The pressure indicator in the lid may drop on its own during this time, meaning that there is no remaining steam in the pot.)
- Open the lid and drain off any excess water. Serve immediately, or store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: Whole Grain
Keywords: Instant Pot Farro, Farro in an Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker Farro
I’ve had trouble cooking farro in my Pot but I have it another try with your recipe (longer cook time, more water) and it was perfect! I mix in a little vegan butter or olive oil and garlic and it’s a great meal or side dish!