Sardinian Cheese Brodo with Fregola

Fregola, as it turns out is the Sardinian "sister" of Easter European Farfel.  have eaten fregola as a side dish prepared as a pasta course or appetizer, but this dish was a new concept for me. This is a good way to use up saved Parmigiano or Pecorino Romano rinds. I am including the traditional soup along with suggested optional ingredients that were inspired by a dish my daughter and her boyfriend enjoyed at a Sardinian restaurant in Sydney Australia. Hope you enjoy it. 

Ingredients:

2 quarts water

8 oz pecorino rinds or hard Pecorino Romano cheese) or more if you like a stronger flavor (You can also                      use Parmigiano if you prefer its nuttier flavor)

sea salt to taste

¾ C fregola

Optional:

lightly sauted zucchini rounds 

zucchini blossoms

basil oil

Directions:

Bring rinds and water to boil and lower to simmer for 1 ½ hours. Strain the rinds/cheese from the soup and season to taste with salt.  Bring broth to a boil and add the fregola. Cook until al dente, correct seasoning and serve. If you like, you can add the "optional ingredients just before serving, drizzled with some basil oil.