Cozy Savory Grain Bowl (Printable)
Nutty farro combined with sautéed vegetables and herb dressing creates a warm, hearty bowl.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup farro (alternative: barley or brown rice)
02 - 3 cups vegetable broth
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
04 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 medium carrot, diced
07 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
08 - 1 cup cremini mushrooms, sliced
09 - 2 cups baby spinach
→ Herb Dressing
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
14 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Toppings (optional)
16 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
# How-To Steps:
01 - Rinse farro under cold water. Bring vegetable broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add farro, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes until tender. Drain excess liquid.
02 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté for 3 minutes until softened.
03 - Add minced garlic, diced carrot, zucchini, and sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 8 minutes until vegetables are tender and lightly browned.
04 - Stir in baby spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until just wilted. Remove skillet from heat.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, parsley, thyme, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
06 - Fluff cooked farro with a fork. Divide among four bowls and top each serving with the sautéed vegetables.
07 - Drizzle herb dressing over each bowl. Optionally, sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds.
08 - Serve warm immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour and tastes like you've been cooking all afternoon.
- The herb dressing is bright enough to wake up even the simplest vegetables.
- You can make it on Sunday and it honestly tastes better on Wednesday.
02 -
- Don't rush the onion; those first three minutes of gentle cooking transform it from raw bite to sweet undertone.
- The spinach will seem like too much until it hits the heat—trust that it shrinks down and adds only verdant softness.
03 -
- Cook extra farro and reheat it throughout the week; it tastes even better as the flavors meld.
- Toast your pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet for 2 minutes before adding them—that small step makes them taste infinitely better.