Farro Bowls with Broccoli and Chickpeas

By Updated on

These easy Farro Bowls are a delicious vegetarian meal packed with farro, roasted broccoli, and an amazing lemon tahini sauce.

486 CAL 66g CARBS 19g FAT 19g PROTEIN 9
Leave a Comment

These easy-to-make Farro Bowls with roasted broccoli and chickpeas are a staple vegetarian meal topped with flavorful and refreshing garlic, lemon, and tahini sauce. The combination of roasted broccoli, farro, and tahini sauce is almost magical.

I love making healthy rice and grain bowls featuring roasted vegetables and grains lately. Dishes like today's farro bowl recipe and these vegetarian shawarma bowls and buddha bowls are super simple to prepare and have so many positive health benefits.

They are filling, perfect for meal-prep, and endlessly customizable. Today's version switches out the traditional rice or quinoa for nutty, delicious farro. With its chewy texture and nutty flavor, it is a great alternative to rice. We love using it in this Chicken Kofta Bowl recipe too. 

Why You'll Love These Farro Grain Bowls

  • Versatile: Make these bowls with different grains, try different sauces, and add more veggies. These broccoli bowls are super versatile and easy to customize for any preference.
  • Great for meal prep: Roasted vegetables, especially broccoli, are great for meal prep. Where fresh vegetables can get soggy after a couple of days, roasted broccoli keeps well. 
  • Nutritious:  This bowl has it all with healthy whole grains, tons of nutrients from vegetables, and healthy fats from the sauce. Add more protein with chickpeas, tofu, or chicken.

The other thing you will love about these broccoli bowls is the sauce. It is made with just a few simple ingredients, but it is so full of flavor. If you are a tahini lover like me you will adore this dreamy sauce!

Ingredients for Farro Bowls including cooked farro, broccoli, chickpeas, tahini, and fresh herbs.

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

This recipe only calls for a few healthy ingredients that can easily be found at your local supermarket. These bowls are also completely customizable, feel free to mix and match your vegetables as you please to get the most out of this simple vegetarian meal.

  • Broccoli: This tasty green vegetable is full of nutritious vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, iron, and potassium. It is also a rich source of fiber and protein. Swap in any roasted vegetables you like.
  • Chickpeas: These low-calorie legumes are packed in fiber, making them a super filling addition to these bowls. I love to incorporate chickpeas into my diet. They are excellent plant-based protein. You can also use black beans, white beans, tofu, chicken, shrimp, or fish.
  • Tahini: Featured in many hummus recipes, tahini is made from sesame seeds and used in Middle Eastern dishes. It is a good source of iron, calcium, and magnesium. If you don't like tahini, swap in cashew or almond butter.
  • Farro: With nutty and slightly earthy flavors, this grain has been a staple in my kitchen lately. This ancient grain is a wonderful source of fiber, protein, and iron. It also contains immune-boosting properties, including Vitamin B, magnesium, and zinc.
  • Lemon Juice: This ingredient provides a bit of refreshing citrus in this bowl. Lemons are rich in potassium and Vitamin C. Swap in lime juice or vinegar if you like.
  • Garlic: Full of flavor and health benefits, this popular ingredient has been known to possess anti-inflammatory properties and lower blood sugar levels.

How to Make Farro

Farro is super easy to make on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot.

  • Farro to Water Ratio: For every 1 cup of farro, use 2 cups of water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth.
  • Stovetop: Rinse the farro under cold water in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear. Add the farro and water to a pot and add a pinch of salt. Bring it to a boil and stir. Immediately turn down the temperature to a low simmer and cover. Cook for 20-25 minutes until the farro is tender. Drain any excess water.
  • Instant Pot: Start by rinsing the farro in a fine mesh sieve until the water runs clear. Add the farro and liquid to the Instant Pot with a pinch of kosher salt. Seal the Instant Pot and cook for 14 minutes on Manual mode. Let the pressure naturally release and then open the lid. Drain any excess water. 

Farro broccoli bowls with chickpeas and cooked farro in a bowl with garlic tahini sauce.

Customize Your Broccoli Farro Bowls

Follow the steps and ideas to customize your farro bowls with different veggies, proteins, and sauce ideas. 

  • Make it cheesy: Cheese provides a bit of added saltiness and flavor to this dish. Parmesan, goat cheese, or feta cheese taste delightful sprinkled on top of this delicious farro bowl. Seasoned tofu feta is also a good vegan-friendly substitute.
  • Add protein: These farro broccoli bowls taste great with some added protein. Shrimp, tofu, rotisserie chicken, and hard or soft-boiled eggs are some possible options that taste wonderful in this dish. They are also delicious with black beans, like these Cuban Black Bean Bowls.
  • Add some crunch: Add some delicious crunch and nutrition with pistachios, sunflower seeds, almonds, sesame seeds, or cashews. It is also delicious with some raw veggies for crunch like radishes, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, red onions, or red cabbage.
  • Switch up your toppings: Avocado is also a great addition that provides a source of protein and good fats. Add a dollop of garlic hummus, tzatziki, romesco, baba ganoush, or roasted red pepper dip. Or reach for fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, mint, dill, or basil.
  • Add more roasted veggies: Add more roasted vegetables like butternut squash, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans, asparagus, onions, or sweet potatoes. 
  • Turn it into a salad: Add some leafy greens, such as arugula, kale, or spinach, and cut back on your grains. Grains make excellent additions to salads for added nutrients. Thus, be sure to add some to your salad if you go with this variation.

Chickpea and broccoli farro bowls with farro and garlic tahini sauce in two bowls with a blue napkin.

How to Make the Tahini Garlic Sauce

To make this scrumptious sauce, smash a garlic clove until it is turned into a paste with some salt. Then, stir into tahini and combine with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

To smooth things out since tahini can be quite thick, you add just enough water to thin out the sauce into a pourable consistency.

Meal Prep and Storage

Farro bowls are amazing for meal prep! They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days. These make for the perfect side dish or meal that can easily be taken on the go. 

Reheat in the microwave or on a stove-top skillet until warmed up or enjoy them cold or at room temperature. 

These bowls also freeze well in an airtight container. Freeze them for up to 3 months (without the dressing) and defrost overnight in the fridge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the top questions readers have asked about this recipe.

I prefer to use farro for these bowls due to the grain’s nutritious value. If you are not a fan of farro, feel free to substitute with other healthy grains such as quinoa, brown rice, or even whole-grain barley. The best part about these broccoli bowls is that they are very customizable.

Farro and quinoa are both healthy whole grains that can be an alternative to rice or pasta. One cup of farro contains 16 grams of protein and 16 grams of fiber when compared to just 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber in a cup of quinoa. Farro has more carbohydrates than quinoa and is not naturally gluten-free. 

Farro bowl with broccoli, chickpeas, and tahini garlic dressing.
The Recipe
Garlic tahini broccoli bowls with cooked farro, roasted broccoli, roasted chickpeas, and tahini sauce in two bowls.

Farro Bowls with Broccoli and Chickpeas

486 CAL 66g CARBS 19g FAT 19g PROTEIN 9
PREP TIME: 10 Min
COOK TIME: 30 Min
TOTAL TIME: 40 Min
Leave a comment
  • Print
  • Download
  • Send to your inbox

Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 cup farro
  • 4 cups broccoli florets
  • 2 cups canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup water (up to)
  • 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

Like this Recipe? Try our Meal Plans!

Slender Kitchen Meal Plans
  • Weekly Meal Plans
  • Easy Shopping List
  • Healthy, Low Carb, & Vegetarian
  • Nutritional Information

Instructions

(Hide Media)

Switch to prevent your screen from going dark.

1

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Add the farro and water to a pot on the stove. Add a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and then turn down to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes until the farro is tender. Drain any excess water.

Cooked farro in a white bowl.
2

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Spread the broccoli out on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through. Add the chickpeas and roast for an additional 10-15 minutes.

Roasted broccoli florets and chickpeas on a baking sheet.
3

Meanwhile make the sauce. Mince the garlic. Sprinkle it with kosher salt and use the back of your knife to carefully press down on the garlic to create a paste. Add this to the tahini and stir in the lemon juice. Slowly add water until the mixture things out and becomes pourable. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

Tahini, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
4

Serve the roasted broccoli and chickpeas over the farro with the sauce drizzled on top.

Farro and broccoli bowls with chickpeas served in two bowls.

Equipment

This equipment section may contain affiliate links to products we recommend.
Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 2/3 cup farro with 1 cup broccoli and 2 tbsp sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 486
Calories from Fat 173
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 19g
30%
Saturated Fat 3g
13%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 330mg
14%
Total Carbohydrate 66g
22%
Dietary Fiber 9g
34%
Sugars 5g
Protein 19g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

user image
About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
0 Comments
On Farro Bowls with Broccoli and Chickpeas
user image
Instagram Icon
Did you make this?

Snap a picture and show us what you made on Instagram or Facebook. Tag us using @SlenderKitchen or #slenderkitchen.