How to Make Farro Instant Pot Recipe - Retro Housewife Goes Green (2024)

April 22, 2023 By Lisa Sharp 52 Comments

Want to know how to cook farro? An easy option is this farro Instant Pot recipe. It’s great for making farro that can be used in all kinds of farro recipes.This post was sponsored by Village Harvest. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Farro is an ancient grain that’s a staple in many Italian kitchens. It can be used in soups, salads, stews, risotto, and other recipesin place of rice or quinoa. It’s a wonderful source of protein and fiber. It can take a while to cook through. Instant Pot farro is easy to make and a great base for many wonderful farro recipes.

Why You Should Use Farro

It’s a Healthy Plant-Based Protein Source

Since we are reducing our meat intake I’m looking for ways to add more protein from plant sources. We prefer to avoid soy and don’t love to eat a lot of beans.

One place you may not think of for adding protein is grains but it can be a very affordable protein source. Rice and wheat have some protein but not a lot. Some other grains like spelt or kamut are a better source of protein, their uses are limited though.

Another grain that is a good source of protein is farro. It’s an ancient grain, first cultivated in 9000 B.C., with twice the protein and fiber as modern wheat. It’s similar to rice but with more protein and fewer carbs. It works really well in recipes that call for rice like soups, salads, stews, and more.

I looked for farro for a long time, thankfully now it’s becoming more common in the US. I also was happy to be able to find a brand that has great sustainability practices, Village Harvest. I really love the product and I love that they produce it in a sustainable way.

Reducing Meat Consumption

For years we did Meatless Mondays in our house. As my husband started to spend more time in the gym and his protein needs increased we got out of the habit.

We prefer to eat pasture-raised meat, local when possible, and it can cost quite a bit of money. Reducing our meat intake can really helpsave a lot of money on our grocery budget.Reducing your meat intake can also improve your health and is a great way to reduce your environmental impact.

How to Cooking Farro in the Instant Pot

You cook it like rice but while it does absorb a lot of water it doesn’t absorb all of it. Cooking farro on the stove takes about 25 minutes, which isn’t bad but you can make it even faster in an Instant Pot. It can also be made in a rice cooker but anInstant Potis great because it works as a rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker, and more. I love not having to have multiple appliances and insteadonly having one that does the job of seven appliances.

Get an Instant Pot Cheat Sheet

Delicious Farro Recipes

Want a few ideas for using farro? Here are some delicious recipes you can try, they are all vegetarian so perfect for Meatless Monday.

• Mushroom and Pea Risotto from Brown Sugar
• Easy Farro Chili from The Almond Eater
• Mediterranean Farro Salad with Spiced Chickpeas from Budget Bytes
• Coconut Mango Breakfast Farro from I Heart Eating

Have you tried cooking farro? What’s your favorite way to eat it? I’d love more ideas!

More Recipes to Try