Sunchoke-Kale Hash with Farro

This hearty dish, from Food & Wine magazine, can be a vegetarian main course or a side dish. It uses farro, a whole wheat grain that is cooked similar to rice. It is full of fiber and nutrients from the faro, sunchokes, and kale.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup farro
• 2 1/2 pounds large sunchokes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
• Salt
• 1 pound Tuscan kale, tough stems discarded
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil blended with 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1 small red onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 pound oyster mushrooms, halved if large
• Freshly ground pepper

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, cover the farro with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, cover and cook over low heat until the farro is tender, about 25 minutes. Drain the farro. 2.
2. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cover the sunchokes with water and add a pinch of salt. Boil until the sunchokes are tender, 10 minutes; drain. Slice the sunchokes 1/4 inch thick.
3. Fill the large saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Add the Tuscan kale and cook until just tender, about 3 minutes. Drain the kale and let cool slightly. Squeeze out any excess liquid from the kale leaves and then coarsely chop them.
4. In a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the blended oil. Add the red onion and a pinch of salt and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 12 minutes.
5. In a nonstick skillet, melt the butter in 2 tablespoons of the blended oil. Add the sunchokes in an even layer and cook over high heat until browned on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn the sunchokes, reduce the heat to moderately high and continue cooking until starting to brown, about 2 minutes. Push the sunchokes to the side of the skillet.
6. Add 1 more tablespoon of the oil and the oyster mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat until browned, 3 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil along with the farro, kale and onion and cook, stirring, until hot. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Makes 10 servings with 246 calories, 10 g fat, 36 g carbs, 49 mg sodium, and 5 g fiber.