This is comfort food that’s good for you. Farro is an ancient grain that was used to make cereals and pasta before wheat was widely available. It is somewhat similar to Israeli couscous in texture, but if you can’t find it, any small pasta shape, such as orzo, makes a good substitute. Don’t overwork the pesto; it should still have distinct pieces of the individual herbs, which keeps the flavors clearer and more distinct.

　　

Ingredients

6 to 8 servings

　　8 cups low-sodium chicken broth

　　1 pound farro (about 2 1/2 cups)

　　2 cups fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

　　1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

　　2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves

　　2 garlic cloves

　　1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

　　1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

　　3/4 teaspoon salt

　　1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

　　Wedge of Pecorino Romano cheese, for garnish

　　

Step 1

Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add the farro and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer the farro until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain the farro and set aside in a large bowl.

　　

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a food processor combine the parsley, basil, thyme, and garlic. Pulse until the herbs are coarsely chopped. Add the olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Pulse again until the herbs make a coarse mixture.

　　

Step 3

Toss the warm farro with the coarse pesto. Transfer to a serving bowl. Using a vegetable peeler, make about 1/2 cup of cheese shavings from the Pecorino cheese wedge. Top the farro with the cheese shavings and serve.

　　Reprinted with permission from Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites by Giada De Laurentiis. Copyright © 2008 by Giada De Laurentiis. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Giada De Laurentiis is the star of Food Network's Everyday Italian and Behind the Bash. She attended the Cordon Bleu in Paris, and then worked in a variety of Los Angeles restaurants, including Wolfgang Puck's Spago, before starting her own catering and private-chef company, GDL Foods. The granddaughter of movie producer Dino De Laurentiis, Giada was born in Rome and grew up in Los Angeles, where she now lives.