First foods database

🌾 Farro for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat farro? Yes, from about 6 months. Farro is an ancient wheat grain with a nutty taste and chewy bite, so it contains gluten; cooked soft, it is a hearty base for stews and risotto-style dishes.

From 6 monthsAllergen: GlutenLow choking risk when prepared well

Good source of: Fibre, Protein, Magnesium, Zinc

How to serve farro by age

6 to 9 months

Soak overnight, then simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until very soft, longer than for adult meals. Blend or mash with tomato sauce or puréed vegetables. For finger food, mash soft farro with egg and vegetables into small patties and bake.

9 to 12 months

Serve soft cooked farro mixed with diced roasted courgette, mushroom and tomato, which baby can scoop by the handful. Cook it in water or a homemade unsalted stock.

12 months and up

Offer farro in grain salads, soups and 'farrotto' (made like risotto). Keep the grains well cooked and add crumbled feta or cheese for older toddlers.

Choking safety

Undercooked farro is firm and can be hard for babies to chew. Cook until a grain squashes easily between your finger and thumb, and keep it moist or mashed.

Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).

Good to know

Farro is a type of wheat and contains gluten; introduce wheat first.
Cook in water or unsalted stock rather than stock cubes.

Introducing it as an allergen

It contains gluten, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce gluten

Easy ideas

Tomato and courgette farrotto
Farro and mushroom patties
Farro with roasted vegetables and a little feta (12+)

Goes well with

🍅TomatoFrom 6 months 🍄MushroomFrom 6 months 🥒CourgetteFrom 6 months 🧀FetaFrom 6 months · Milk

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat farro?

Is farro gluten-free?

No. Farro is an ancient type of wheat (often emmer or spelt), so it contains gluten.

How long does farro take to cook for babies?

Allow 30 to 40 minutes for whole farro, ideally after soaking. It should be soft enough to squash easily.

Sources

OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).