Warm grain salad with bacon, leeks & spinach

Warm grain salad with bacon, leeks & spinach

By Giancarlo Caldesi
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(2 ratings)
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Prep: 10 mins Cook: 20 mins

Easy

Serves 6
This versatile salad of nutty farro, smoked pancetta, rosemary and wilted leafy greens makes a hearty side dish or satisfying supper

Nutrition and extra info

Nutrition: per serving

  • kcal275
  • fat13g
  • saturates3g
  • carbs24g
  • sugars1g
  • fibre4g
  • protein13g
  • salt1g
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Ingredients

  • 200g farro or quinoa
  • 1l vegetable, pork or chicken stock
  • 4 rashers smoked pancetta or streaky bacon
    Pancetta

    Pancetta

    pan-chet-ah

    Pancetta is Italian cured pork belly - the equivalent of streaky bacon. It has a deep, strong,…

  • 1 leek
    Leeks

    Leek

    lee-k

    Like garlic and onion, leeks are a member of the allium family, but have their own distinct…

  • knob of salted butter
  • 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 rosemary sprig, leaves only
    Rosemary

    Rosemary

    rose-mar-ee

    Rosemary's intense, fragrant aroma has traditionally been paired with lamb, chicken and game…

  • 2 large handfuls of baby spinach leaves, washed, or shredded kale
  • 100g chestnuts, cooked and broken up (optional)
    Chestnut

    Chestnut

    chest-nut

    'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...' that kitsch old Nat King Cole song perfectly…

Method

  1. Boil the farro or quinoa in the stock in a lidded pan until soft to the bite, then drain. Meanwhile, use a pair of scissors to cut the bacon into small strips. Wash the leek and chop finely. Melt the butter with the oil and fry the bacon, leeks and rosemary gently over a medium heat until soft.

  2. Add the farro to the pan, and stir in the green leaves and chestnuts, if you like. Put the lid on the pan and keep over a low heat until the leaves wilt and the chestnuts warm through. Serve warm or at room temperature.

  • Recipe Tip

    Ingredient swap

    I have suggested adding baby spinach leaves or shredded kale at the end, and letting it cook in the heat of the pan. However, this could easily be replaced by steamed broccoli florets or green beans, or left out altogether. If you can’t find spelt, or you want a gluten-free alternative, use quinoa or brown rice instead.

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Comments, questions and tips

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Minoo's picture
Minoo
3rd Jul, 2016
I made this with quinoa rather than farro as I happened to have that, but I did use chestnuts which was really nice as they have a natural sweetness that went well wth the bacon. I would say this would make a good main for 3 people.
sidwellc
27th Oct, 2015
5.05
Didn't use the chestnuts but very tasty without.
sidwellc
21st Oct, 2015
5.05
Very tasty - didn't use the chestnuts but otherwise followed recipe. Very easy, very quick and will definitely do again.
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