One-Pot French Onion Farro - With tender-cooked farro grains and French onion flavors, this easy one-pan favorite is like a cross between risotto and French onion soup. Serve with Gruyere-topped crostini and a fresh sprig of thyme and we're talking swoon-city. For a vegan version, just omit the gruyere - still absolutely delicious!

I guess you could say I’m a carb girl. Pasta, bread … why does it all have to be so delicious?! I’ve been working on losing weight, however, and most carbs don’t necessarily serve me well.

My doctor, who I’ve been working with on my diet, conceded my need for carbs and suggested I try working in grains with 5 grams of fiber or more per serving. Barley, steel-cut oats, sorghum berries, and, yep, farro make that list. Steel cut oats,  no problem. I’ve loved those for years. Barley, I do now and then. And then sorghum and farro – yeah, while I’d heard of both, I had yet to try them at home.

One-Pot French Onion Farro - With tender-cooked farro grains and French onion flavors, this easy one-pan favorite is like a cross between risotto and French onion soup. Serve with Gruyere-topped crostini and a fresh sprig of thyme and we're talking swoon-city. For a vegan version, just omit the gruyere - still absolutely delicious!

So I bought some farro, and I went on the hunt for a recipe. This One-Pan Farro with Tomatoes from the venerable Smitten Kitchen caught my eye pretty quickly. It’s a spin on the famous one-pot pasta with tomatoes, onions, and basil. And it was a delicious introduction to farro.

But while slicing up the onions, I couldn’t help but think about what would happen if I went another direction with this one-pot farro. Like, maybe oodles of onions. Cooked down to sweet caramelized perfection. A deglaze of white wine, a few pinches of fresh thyme, a little garlic … yep. I took this farro to French onion town and I never want to come back.

One-Pot French Onion Farro - With tender-cooked farro grains and French onion flavors, this easy one-pan favorite is like a cross between risotto and French onion soup. Serve with Gruyere-topped crostini and a fresh sprig of thyme and we're talking swoon-city. For a vegan version, just omit the gruyere - still absolutely delicious!

Farro is a grain somewhat like wheat, but it’s not – it’s its own plant, its own thing. It’s not gluten-free, though it is lower in gluten than many other grains. It’s high in fiber and high in protein (more than quinoa)! It’s really kind of glorious, health-wise.

Cooked, it sort of reminds me of a cross between brown rice and orzo al dente. It’s larger than a grain of rice – probably about twice the size – with a tender yet chewy texture that holds its shape when cooked.

One-Pot French Onion Farro - With tender-cooked farro grains and French onion flavors, this easy one-pan favorite is like a cross between risotto and French onion soup. Serve with Gruyere-topped crostini and a fresh sprig of thyme and we're talking swoon-city. For a vegan version, just omit the gruyere - still absolutely delicious!

Farro definitely has personality, but the taste itself is rather mild, taking on the flavors of whatever else you put in the dish.

This One-Pot French Onion Farro reminds me of a cross between French onion soup and a hearty risotto. It works equally well as a hearty side dish or a main dish. Alone, it makes for a satisfying dinner alongside, say, a lightly dressed green salad.

One-Pot French Onion Farro - With tender-cooked farro grains and French onion flavors, this easy one-pan favorite is like a cross between risotto and French onion soup. Serve with Gruyere-topped crostini and a fresh sprig of thyme and we're talking swoon-city. For a vegan version, just omit the gruyere - still absolutely delicious!

This dish does takes awhile from start to finish, but most of it is hands-off, so don’t be fooled – it’s remarkably easy. And if you plan ahead just a tad, it makes for a great weeknight meal. Heck, you could even caramelize and deglaze the onions the night before, stick the pot in the fridge, and then proceed the next evening for a faster meal.

One-Pot French Onion Farro - With tender-cooked farro grains and French onion flavors, this easy one-pan favorite is like a cross between risotto and French onion soup. Serve with Gruyere-topped crostini and a fresh sprig of thyme and we're talking swoon-city. For a vegan version, just omit the gruyere - still absolutely delicious!

Served out of the pot, this recipe is vegan – and perfectly delicious without the cheese that you usually find on French onion soup. What I like to do is make the crostini two ways – a few have melty Gruyere for my cheese-eating guy, and a few stay naked for me.

If carbs can taste this delectable and help me stay healthy, well, I’m all for it.

5 from 2 votes

One-Pot French Onion Farro

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Author: Kare
With tender-cooked farro grains and French onion flavors, this easy one-pan favorite is like a cross between risotto and French onion soup. Serve with Gruyere-topped crostini and a fresh sprig of thyme and we're talking swoon-city. For a vegan version, just omit the gruyere - still absolutely delicious!

Ingredients

Farro:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions (halved and sliced thin)
  • 3 medium cloves garlic (minced (about 1 tablespoon))
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine (I like Pinot Gris for this recipe)
  • 2 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (plus more if needed)
  • 1 cup pearled farro* (rinsed under cold water)
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley (optional)
  • Crostini (ingredients below)

Crostini:

  • 1/2 small baguette (sliced thin (about 1/4-inch))
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • 2 ounces Gruyere cheese (shredded (about 1/2 cup) (omit for vegan version))

Instructions

  • Set a large pot over low heat. Add the olive oil and the onions. Cook, stirring once every 5 minutes or so to scrape up the brown bits from the bottom, until softened and golden brown, about 40 minutes. If the onions start to burn, lower the heat until they're cooking well but not burning.
  • Once the onions are caramelized, add the garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally, for one minute.
  • Add the wine, stirring until all of the brown bits are scraped up from the bottom of the pan (deglazing). Add the broth, farro, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir. Increase heat to medium-high to bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened and the farro is tender, 20-30 minutes. If the liquid cooks off before the farro is cooked through, add more broth, 1/2 cup at a time, until cooked. Stir in or top with parsley if desired.
  • While the farro simmers, make the crostini. Set the slices of baguette on a baking sheet. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil and salt. Using a pastry brush, brush both sides of the bread with the oil. Sprinkle individual crostini with Gruyere cheese, if using. Broil on high until toasted and golden brown, 2-5 minutes (the time really depends on your individual broiler. Watch carefully - they can burn fast!)
  • To serve, spoon farro into bowls or onto a plate. Top with crostini.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a portion of the proceeds. More about this here.