Spiced Apple Farro Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl

If you’re bored with typical breakfast food, you have to try this spiced apple farro oatmeal recipe that highlights the classic flavors of fall. Without being too sweet, this farro oatmeal is creamy and incredibly rich. Surprisingly, it can be made dairy-free and vegan, so that anyone can enjoy this warm and fulfilling breakfast.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of farro
• 3 cups of water
• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
• 2 fresh McIntosh apples
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
• Juice of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of walnuts

Instructions

STEP 1:

Measure out a cup of farro and rinse under water with a bowl or strainer until grains are properly cleaned.

STEP 2:

Add the farro and three cups of water to a sauce pan. Boil on medium high heat for about 10 minutes.

STEP 3:

While the farro is cooking, peel two fresh McIntosh apples and chop up the skinless apple into small cubes.

STEP 4:

Add the butter, apples, and cinnamon to another saucepan and start to lightly brown your apple mixture.

STEP 5:

Add the juice of one orange, brown sugar, and walnuts to the apple mixture. Cook on medium low heat for about 10 minutes.

STEP 6:

Remove the farro from heat and drain the water. It should not be all the way cooked just yet. Add the can of coconut milk to the farro mixture. Return to heat for another 5-10 minutes while stirring occasionally.

STEP 7:

Remove the apple compote from heat once the apples are a brown color and the orange juice has absorbed. The mixture should be soft like apple sauce.

STEP 8:

Once the farro thickens, you can remove it from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt to the farro mixture.

STEP 9:

Serve the farro oatmeal warm in a bowl with the spiced apple compote on top.

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Why Farro Oatmeal?

Farro is a grain made of wheat that has a slightly crunchy and yet chewy consistency. It is known to be an Italian super food, but can also be found in Middle East and Mediterranean cusines. It is often served savory as a risotto or herby side dish to a meat main course.

After I saw farro oatmeal on the breakfast menu of a fancy hotel, I was super curious how they turned these grains into a creamy, oatmeal consistency. Turns out that this ended up being one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The grain held up the texture of oatmeal so much better than I was used to. It was like a sweet, yet simple breakfast version of risotto.

As a result, I decided to make my own recipe for a spiced apple farro oatmeal breakfast bowl that would be perfect for fall and highlighting warm, flavors that are currently in season.

ALSO READ: Cinnamon Apple Dump Cake: The Perfect Fall Lazy Dessert

Spiced Apple Compote

Apple compote is a fancier and warm version of apple sauce that is often served with breakfast foods or meats like pork or chicken. It has always been one of my favorite recipes to whip up at home because it tastes like apple pie filling, but way less sweet. As a result, it pairs incredibly well with savory foods and will satisfy your sweet tooth.

Since the apple compote is delicious on its own, you can always serve this by itself. I also recommend topping it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a special treat.

When I was creating my farro oatmeal recipe, it just made sense to pair the spiced apple compote on top to incorporate fresh fall fruits and flavors. Plus, it will add a richness and sweetness to the farro, so that those ingredients can stay fairly simple. It was important to me that this spiced apple farro oatmeal was a breakfast bowl that did not overpower with sweetness.

I can confidently say this is my favorite breakfast recipe right now. The warmth it provides is perfect for the season change and its cinnamon, apple flavors will appeal to everyone. You can even add on more toppings or try nut butter for some extra protein. It’s easy to whip up or prep for the week, so I can’t recommend my spiced apple farro oatmeal enough.