Farro Pasta Bowl Mediterranean Vegetables (Print Version)

Nutty farro pasta with zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and baby spinach in a lemon-olive oil dressing, topped with feta cheese.

# What You'll 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

# How to Make It:

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 until tender. 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 diced zucchini, bell peppers, and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes or until vegetables are just tender but retain their vibrant color.
04 - Stir in the baby spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until wilted. Remove skillet from heat.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together remaining olive oil, lemon juice, dried oregano, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper to create the Mediterranean dressing.
06 - In a large bowl, combine cooked farro pasta, sautéed vegetables, and dressing. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
07 - Divide the pasta bowl among serving bowls. Top with crumbled feta cheese, fresh parsley, and toasted pine nuts. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It fills you up without weighing you down, the kind of meal that leaves you satisfied but not sluggish.
  • The colors alone make it feel like something special even on a weeknight.
  • You can eat it warm right away or cold the next day and it somehow tastes better each time.
  • Everything cooks in under half an hour, which means less time standing over the stove and more time eating.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the pasta well, excess water dilutes the dressing and turns everything watery instead of glossy.
  • Sauté the vegetables over medium heat, not high, so they soften and sweeten instead of charring before they cook through.
  • Toss the warm pasta with the dressing immediately so it absorbs all that lemony, herby flavor while it's still hot.
03 -
  • Toast the pine nuts in a dry skillet for 2 to 3 minutes until golden, they burn fast so watch them closely and shake the pan often.
  • If your farro pasta is taking longer to cook than expected, taste it a minute or two early so you catch it at al dente before it goes soft.
  • Use a large bowl for tossing everything together, it's easier to mix without flinging vegetables all over the counter.
  • Save a splash of the pasta cooking water before draining, you can add it back if the bowl seems dry and it helps the dressing cling better.
Go Back