Farro Pasta Bowl Mediterranean Vegetables (Printable Version)

Nutty farro pasta tossed with vibrant Mediterranean vegetables and zesty olive oil dressing. A light, satisfying meal ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Grains and Pasta

01 - 8.8 oz farro pasta

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium zucchini, diced
03 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
05 - 5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 3.5 oz baby spinach
07 - 1 small red onion, finely sliced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Dressing

09 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

14 - 2 oz crumbled feta cheese
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
16 - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the farro pasta according to package instructions until al dente, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Drain and set aside.
02 - While the pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and minced garlic, sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add the diced zucchini, bell peppers, and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes until vegetables are tender-crisp and maintain their vibrant color.
04 - Stir in the baby spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted. Remove the skillet from heat.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined.
06 - Transfer the cooked farro pasta to a large bowl. Add the sautéed vegetables and pour the dressing over the mixture. Toss gently to coat all components evenly.
07 - Divide the pasta mixture among serving bowls. Top each bowl with crumbled feta cheese, fresh parsley, and toasted pine nuts. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Pointers:

01 -
  • Farro's nutty flavor keeps things interesting without needing cream or heavy sauces.
  • It's flexible enough for a midweek dinner but impressive enough to share with guests.
  • The vegetables stay vibrant and the whole thing comes together in under an hour.
02 -
  • Don't oversalt your pasta water thinking it makes a difference later, because you're also adding salt to the dressing and feta is already salty on its own.
  • If you cook the vegetables too long they'll turn mushy and drab, so keep an eye on them and pull the pan off heat the moment they're tender.
  • The dressing tastes better when it coats warm pasta because the heat opens up the flavors of the oregano and helps the oil penetrate everything evenly.
03 -
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet for just a couple of minutes to wake up their flavor before adding them to the bowl.
  • If you can't find farro pasta, regular farro cooked like risotto works beautifully and tastes even nuttier.
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