Simple Chickpea Farro Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce

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Asian-inspired Simple Chickpea Farro Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce is a healthy vegan alternative to your favorite takeout dish.

A budget-friendly meal that will quickly become your favorite go-to weeknight dinner.

Farro, roasted chickpeas, stir-fry cabbage, peppers, and carrots. Topped with roasted peanuts, cilantro, and sesame seeds. Served with creamy peanut sauce in a blue and white bowl. — Chickpeas add an abundance of plant-based protein and a delicious crunch to this vegan bowl.

This versatile recipe is a great one for using up veggies you already have on hand. The easy 5-ingredient peanut dressing also pairs well with salads, roasted veggies, tofu, and tempeh.

This dish was inspired by my Creamy Tahini Chickpeas & Veggies on this site. Feel free to swap out the Peanut Sauce for this Creamy Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing if you have a nut allergy, or to change things up.

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👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients
📖 Instructions
🥬 Substitutions & Variations
🔪 Equipment
⏱ Storage
💡 Top tip
👩🏽‍🍳 Made This Recipe?
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Farro, chopped red bell pepper, chopped carrots, peanuts, grated ginger, minced garlic, peanut sauce, roasted chickpeas, five spice powder, sliced napa cabbage, and chopped cilantro. — Simple Chickpea Farro Stir-Fry.

See recipe card for quantities.

Garlic powder, rice vinegar, maple syrup, tamari, toasted sesame oil, ground ginger, peanut butter, and warm water. — Easy 5-Minute Peanut Dressing.

See recipe card for quantities.

📖 Instructions

Cook the farro until al dente. Do not overcook. It should still have a bite to it.

Rubbing the chickpeas between layers of a kitchen towel before seasoning removes the skins and gets them even crispier. This step is optional, but worth doing if you have the time.

Toss the chickpeas with sesame oil, five spice powder, and salt to taste.

Chickpeas spread out on a stainless steel rimmed baking sheet with olive oil and five spice powder. — Five spice powder adds an Asian-inspired twist to these roasted chickpeas.

Crispy roasted chickpeas in five spice powder and olive oil on a stainless steel rimmed baking sheet. — Roast or air-fry the chickpeas until crispy and golden brown.

The cooking time is shorter with an air-fryer, but both methods work great. If you choose to roast the chickpeas, broil for an additional two minutes at the end for extra crispiness.

Diced carrots, dice red bell peppers, grated ginger, and minced garlic cooking in sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet. — Cook the carrots and red bell peppers in the sesame oil with the garlic and ginger.

Napa cabbage, diced carrots, dice red bell peppers, grated ginger, and minced garlic cooking in sesame oil in a large nonstick skillet. — Add the napa cabbage and cook until just wilted.

Make the creamy peanut sauce. Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk well to combine.

Creamy peanut sauce in a blue and white bowl with a whisk. — This heart healthy 5-minute peanut dressing is a delicious addition to salads and veggie bowls.

Enjoy this stir-fry warm or at room temperature. Both are delectable.

🥬 Substitutions & Variations

Farro - instead of farro, you can use spelt berries, wheat berries, wholegrain barley, or short grain brown rice
Five spice powder - you can also use allspice, cinnamon and nutmeg, smoked paprika, or chipotle powder
Carrots & bell pepper - substitute with zucchini, green peas, snap peas, snow peas, or green beans. Chop the veggies and use the same quantities as listed in the recipe.
Napa cabbage - use green cabbage or savoy cabbage instead
Peanuts - use your choice of nuts or omit as desired
Peanut butter - use your choice of nut butter (almond, cashew)

Feel free to swap out the peanut sauce for a different dressing. Check out this Quick Edamame Quinoa Salad recipe for an oil-free alternative. See my other Veggie Bowls for even more dressing choices.

🔪 Equipment

Air-fryers are convenient to use and brown foods more quickly than conventional ovens. Plus, they can be used as a healthy alternative to deep-frying with very little oil.

If you are in the market for an air-fryer, look for one made with nontoxic materials.

⏱ Storage

Refrigerate any remaining Simple Chickpea Farro Stir-Fry in a separate airtight container from the Peanut Sauce. Recombine for serving. The stir-fry is good for up to 2 days, and the peanut dressing for up to 1 week.

These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing.

💡 Top tip

Don't overcook the farro or veggies. They taste much better when they still have a crunch to them.

Cook the chickpeas in a single layer so they brown evenly.

Is peanut butter healthy?

Despite its misleading name, a peanut is actually a legume. Nutritionally speaking, peanuts and nuts are fairly similar. Both are rich in heart healthy fats and fiber, as well as several vitamins and minerals.
However, not all peanut butters are created equal. Look for a brand made with 100% peanuts with no added salt or sugar.

How can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Farro is a form of wheat which means it contains gluten. Swap out the farro for brown rice, and use gluten-free tamari in the peanut sauce to make this dish gluten-free.

How can I make this recipe oil-free?

Omit the sesame oil to make this dish oil-free. Cook the aromatics and veggies in a little tamari or soy sauce instead.

👩🏽‍🍳 Made This Recipe?

Share your Simple Chickpea Farro Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce creation with me on Instagram. It makes my day to see you recreate my recipes.

I would love it if you would ⭐️ rate this recipe and leave a comment. Thank you in advance.

For more delicious stir-fry recipes, check out my Vegan Asian Recipes page.