If you are looking for a dinner that’s quick, satisfying, healthy, and elegant in a rustic sort of way, then asparagus farro risotto is for you.
Asparagus farro risotto is balancing for digestion in spring and summer, and a nourishing dish that’s perfect for lunch or supper.
Complete your meal with a green salad if you like, dressed with a simple vinaigrette.
Keep reading to learn why both asparagus and farro are gut-healthy foods, and why you might want to adopt them into your regular diet.
Health Benefits of Asparagus
After a winter diet heavy on root vegetables, the arrival of asparagus in spring is a welcome change.
According to the natural system of medicine known as Ayurveda, the qualities of asparagus are light, cooling, and dry. These qualities are balancing for the typical spring weather, which tends to be damp and heavy.
Asparagus is also alkalizing and full of prana, or life force energy.
Asparagus is full of vitality because it doesn’t store well after being picked, so the green spears are bound to be relatively fresh. Ayurveda says that the fresher an ingredient is, the more vitality it has.
Medicinally, asparagus cools and purifies the blood by eliminating toxins through the urinary tract.
You may have noticed that your pee smells funny soon after eating asparagus. Not to worry. That’s asparagine, a chemical that smells like acetone. It shouldn’t last longer than a day.
You may also notice that you have to use the bathroom more frequently, and this is because asparagus is a diuretic.
Eating more diuretic foods can be really helpful if you are prone to congestion or retaining water, which are typical experiences in the spring season.
There’s also a demulcent or slippery quality to asparagus that is anti-inflammatory and soothing for the digestive tract.
Farro, an Ancient Grain
Farro, pronounced FAHR-oh, is an ancient form of wheat.
Technically farro could refer to einkorn, emmer, or spelt, but in the United States, it is typically emmer wheat.
Being an ancient grain, farro is lower than gluten and much easier to digest than modern wheat.
The farro you buy will be either pearled (slightly hulled), or completely whole. This will determine the cooking time, from 15 minutes to as long as 45 minutes.
Most likely the farro you buy will be pearled. Just check the cooking instructions for suggested timing, and continue simmering the grain until you receive the consistency you desire.
Cooked farro has a pleasantly chewy texture, with a slightly nutty taste. Today we are turning farro into risotto, but you can easily enjoy farro in soups or salads.
Easy Peasy
Overall, this asparagus farro risotto is rich and satisfying, and very easy to make.
Set aside those horror stories you’ve heard about making risotto. That’s not what this is. If you can simmer, you can make this.
Here’s what you can expect.
Just imagine your asparagus and farro, flavored with butter or olive oil, onion, white wine vinegar, parsley, and black pepper, and topped with optional shaved Parmigiano Reggiano and toasted hazelnuts.
Simple and hubby approved. He specifically enjoyed the drops of fresh lemon on top. Are you getting hungry yet?
Recipe for Asparagus Farro Risotto
Recipe Notes
Asparagus farro risotto is also wonderful topped with feta cheese. Or try this with fresh cilantro, basil, oregano, and/or tarragon.
For more healthy vegetarian recipes, visit butteredveg.com.
Andrea Hayley-Sankaran is the founder of Good Gut Ayurveda, a certified Ayurvedic Digestive Health Coach, and creator of Happy Eater, a 6-week program that helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs and professionals take control of their health, and unlock their energy, freedom, and FLOW.
Andrea is a vegetarian chef of 25 years who’s known as the “joyful chef” because of her infectious love for cooking. Students rave about their cooking class experiences as they experience her signature mindful approach to cooking and eating. They especially appreciate learning how to cook vegetarian food that tastes so amazing they don’t miss the meat.
Through her programs, coaching, writing, and speaking, Andrea empowers her community to find balance and attain health and healing through individualized diet and lifestyle habits informed by the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda.