Get ready for a super quick, super easy side dish! With Trader Joe’s 10 Minute Farro and a jar of pesto, you can have a hearty and healthy side dish ready in no time!
The first time I brought home Trader Joe’s 10 minute farro I had no idea what to do with it. But I really wanted to expand to using other grains in our side dish choices and this looked pretty quick and easy. I had a jar of pesto in the refrigerator, like I always do, so decided to give that a try. After adding some fresh grated parmesan, a new favorite side dish was born! This pairs especially well with baked or grilled salmon.
Key Ingredients for Pesto Farro
- Farro: I highly recommend the Trader Joe’s 10 Minute Farro if possible. However, you can use any brand.
- Pesto: I recommend Costco’s Kirkland Signature Basil Pesto but you can use any jarred or refrigerated pesto you prefer. See my post about my love for Costco pesto here.
- Parmesan Cheese: I like freshly grated parmesan cheese in a lot of dishes so I buy blocks of it at Costco.
Note: Make sure to check recipe card for full list of ingredients
Preparation Steps for Pesto Farro
- Cook farro according to package directions and drain
- Mix with desired amount of pesto
- Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and freshly grated black pepper
- Add red pepper flakes if you want a bit of kick
That’s it! An easy side dish when you don’t feel like cooking.
Substitutions or Additions
- You can substitute other grated cheeses such as romano, pecorino as you prefer
Time Breakdown
Total Time |
20 minutes |
Hands ON time |
5 minutes |
Hands OFF time |
15 minutes |
BEST FOR:
When you’re looking for an easy, healthy side dish with minimal prep, but you have enough time to boil a pot of water.
My Ratings
Taste | ||
Effort | ||
Nutrition | ||
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SUMMARY:
This is in our regular rotation for side dishes. It tastes fresh and heathy and is a nice alternative to potatoes or rice. It pairs very well with roasted or grilled fish or chicken.
Serve with
This pairs very well with baked or grilled chicken or fish. We especially like it with salmon, swordfish, and halibut.
More Pesto Dishes You Might Like
Equipment
- 1 saucepan
- 1 Colander
- 1 Cheese grater optional
Ingredients
- 1 package quick cooking farro
- Jarred pesto
- Parmesan cheese
- Fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook farro according to package directions, drain
- Add desired amount of pesto and stir
- Top with parmesan cheese, I recommend freshly grated but any kind will work, and freshly ground black pepper