Recipe: Farro salad with smoked mozzarella

Serves 6 to 8.

Note: Farro can take the midafternoon heat and doesn't get soft or gooey, as pasta can. It's an ancient cousin to wheat with a lovely nutty wheat flavor. It looks like barley, but cooks in about half the time. It will keep, covered in the refrigerator, for about 2 days. To add more texture and flavor to the salad, add several cups of cooked wild rice, which will increase its servings. From Beth Dooley.

• 2 c. farro, rinsed

• 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

• 1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/2 lb. smoked mozzarella, finely diced

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

• 6 green onions, finely chopped

• 1/2 c. chopped chives

• 1/4 c. chopped fresh basil

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk together the vinegar and oil. Then toss in the mozzarella, garlic, onion, tomatoes, green onions, chives and basil. Serve at room temperature.

Nutrition information per each of 8 servings (without wild rice):

Calories 327 Fat 15 g Sodium 126 mg

Carbohydrates 38 g Saturated fat 5 g Calcium 195 mg

Protein 14 g Cholesterol 25 mg Dietary fiber 5 g