Spelled is a type of wheat often used as a substitute for pasta and rice. It tastes similar to brown rice and is very easy to cook. Here are some simple ways to prepare it (for example by boiling it in salted water) and serving it together with other dishes.
Ingrediants
For two people:
- 1 cup of spelled
- 625 ml of water
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Preparing the Farro
Step 1. Choose a type of spelled
You can buy the wholemeal, semi-pearly and pearly type.
- Whole spelled is the healthiest variety, it contains a large amount of fiber, but needs a longer cooking time than the other types and can be heavier to digest. It also has a nutty, more earthy flavor.
- The semi-pearled spelled cooks in half the time compared to the wholemeal one, because the peel is damaged, allowing the heat to reach the center of the grain more quickly. However, it is less nutritious than the whole grain type.
- In pearl spelled the glumetta is completely eliminated. It cooks in no time, but it is certainly the least nutritious variety.
Step 2. If you prefer, leave the spelled to soak in the water
This step is not necessary for semi-pearled and pearled, but it is useful to reduce the cooking time of wholemeal spelled.
Put the spelled in a bowl filling it with water. Leave it to soak in the refrigerator for 8 to 16 hours
Step 3. Rinse it
Put the spelled in a fine mesh colander, rinsing it with cold water until it is clear.
This step must be carried out in any case, even if you have not left the beans to soak
Part 2 of 4: Boil the Farro
Step 1. Bring the salted water to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan
Fill the pot with water, add the salt and turn the stove on over medium-high heat until it starts to boil.
Step 2. Stir in the farro
Make sure the water covers it completely, then turn the heat down to medium-low.
- The water should continue to simmer slightly.
- You can also put the spelled and water in the pot at the same time. Add the spelled, wait for the water to boil and then lower the heat, stirring a little to prevent the wheat from sticking to the pot.
Step 3. Close the pot with a lid and let it cook until the farro is chewy, tender or mushy
The exact cooking time can vary from 15 to 40 minutes, depending on the type of spelled and the texture you prefer.
- For a chewy texture, let the dry farro cook for 30 minutes. If you have soaked it, it can cook for 15 minutes, while the semi-pearled and pearled must cook for 20 minutes.
- If you want tender grains, cook the farro for 40 minutes. The wholemeal spelled left to soak must cook for 25 to 30 minutes, while the semi-pearled and pearled for 30 minutes.
- To make the spelled softer, let it cook for 60 minutes. If you have soaked it, it can cook for about 40 minutes, while the semi-pearled and pearled from 35 to 45 minutes.
- After the first 20 minutes, check the cooking every 5-10 minutes.
Step 4. Eliminate excess water
Spelled tends to absorb most of the water; in any case, some will remain in the pot and the amount of water may vary according to the cooking time.
Step 5. Spelled should be served lukewarm
Let it cool for a few minutes before eating it.
Part 3 of 4: Alternative Cooking Methods
Step 1. Cook the spelled in a rice cooker
Add a cup of spelled with 750ml water to the rice cooker and let it cook for about 45 minutes.
- Before cooking, leave it to soak overnight (at least 8 hours), especially if it is the wholemeal type.
- Set the time manually to 45 minutes. If your rice cooker has the cooking mode for other types of wheat or rice, use the brown rice setting.
Step 2. Prepare the farro in a pressure cooker
Cook a cup of spelled with 750 ml of water for 10 to 15 minutes.
- With this method there is no need to leave the spelled to soak, because in any case it is a very long cooking.
- Cook the spelled for two or three people.
Part 4 of 4: Variations
Step 1. Serve the spelled as an appetizer
Cook it separately from the other ingredients before putting them all together.
- Add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of chopped red onion, 1/4 cup (60 ml) of diced tomato, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of extra virgin olive oil and a little vinegar to the cooked spelled to flavor.
- Let it take some flavor by waiting 30 to 60 minutes.
- Add some fresh parsley and basil before serving.
- If you prefer, you can also add diced peppers, black olives, steamed vegetables or boiled seafood and let it cool.
Step 2. Prepare the spelled with the pasta
Cook them separately, then you can mix them together before serving.
- Short pasta or pastina, such as melon seeds, is the ideal choice, but you can use whichever type you prefer.
- Serve the dish cold or hot.
- Tomato-based sauces particularly enhance the flavor of spelled.
Step 3. Add the beans and cheese
There are many dishes that can be prepared with spelled, beans and cheese.
- Prepare a risotto by browning the chopped onion, diced peppers, minced garlic and borlotti beans. Then add the cooked spelled together with 500 ml of vegetable or chicken broth, pouring only 125 ml at a time. Let it cook for a while each time you add more broth and at the end serve it all with a splash of Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Add 2 cups (500 ml) of drained and rinsed borlotti beans to the cooked spelled or spelled appetizer. You can also add some Parmesan or toasted nuts.
Step 4. Prepare the sweet spelled
Cook the spelled, let it cool to room temperature, then toss with the ricotta and honey to flavor. If you prefer, add a squeeze of cinnamon for garnish.
Step 5. Skip the spelled with sautéed mushrooms
Portobello and wild mushrooms can be sautéed directly with pre-cooked warm spelled.
- Pour some olive oil into a pan. Brown the portobello or wild mushrooms with a little minced garlic.
- Blend everything with a splash of white wine.
- Sauté the spelled together with the mushrooms.
