Farro Sausage Casserole
Moving into fall, I see people asking for casseroles more often. I think the drop in temperatures creates the craving of casserole comfort. Many casseroles end up being full of creamy binders that are high in calories or sugar. I’ve used a squash sauce so you’ll just get additional nutrients.
I love Gilbert’s Chicken Sausage which is what I used in this recipe. Their individually wrapped packets make it easy to grab just 1 or 2 links without opening the entire package! This is not sponsored and I’m not being paid, just giving a shout out to a company I love.
Note: If you have never cooked with Farro before, it is a thicker, nuttier grain than rice. I think some people over cook it because it doesn’t seem done.
Farro Sausage Casserole
2 servings
1 Acorn Squash (~1.5 lbs whole)
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp olive oil
1 cup Italian pearled Farro
8 Sage leaves
4 oz cremini mushrooms, chopped (4-5 whole mushrooms)
2 links (~5 oz) Bourbon Apple Chicken Sausage (pre-cooked)
2 1/4 cups broth (split)
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
Parmesan cheese for topping (optional)
Heat 1 1/2 cups of broth in a sauce pan to a boil. Add farro and cook for 20 minutes (until done)
With a large knife, slice squash in half, scoop out seeds
Rub a 1/4 tsp of olive oil into the squash halves, season lightly with salt and pepper
Cook inside up in the microwave for 8 minutes. (you can also roast in the oven until squash is tender)
Chop cremini mushrooms
Dump cooked farro into a lightly greased 8/8 casserole dish
Slice sausage and chop sage leaves
Scoop out the cooked squash into a sauce pan (you can use the same one from the farro)
Add 3/4 cup broth, chopped sage, 1/4 tsp garlic, 1/4 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp sea salt to the squash.
Bring to a simmer, cooking for 5 minutes and then blend until smooth using an immersion blender or dumping sauce into a blender.
Mix the sliced sausage, mushrooms, farro, and sauce together in the casserole dish, smoothing the top at the end
Bake at 370 degrees for 20 minutes (cook longer if you cook and chill farro to ensure it is heated through)
Optional: Top with parmesan cheese
Speed it Up
Buy precut acorn squash
Prep in Advance
Cook the farro in advance and store in the fridge until mixing
