I'm not really a bread-eater anymore, but I do enjoy a homemade alternative every now and then. I've had chickpea flour (also called gram or besan) in my pantry for a while and never really knew what to do with it - except for falafels. So I googled "chickpea flour, bread", and this Socca recipe came out.
Socca is a popular street food from Nice (south of France) that's a bit like a dosa or a pancake. It's vegan, gluten-free, high in fibre and high in protein. You can read more about the health benefits of the chickpea flour below the instructions.
Socca is a popular street food from Nice (south of France) that's a bit like a dosa or a pancake. It's vegan, gluten-free, high in fibre and high in protein. You can read more about the health benefits of the chickpea flour below the instructions.
Ingredients
Chickpea flour,1 cup or 200 g
Water, 1 cup or 230 ml
Extra-virgin olive oil, 1 1/2 tablespoons
Salt, 1/2 teaspoon
1 teaspoon za'atar (optional)
Instructions
To prepare the chickpea batter, whisk the chickpea flour, water, olive oil, za'atar (if using any) and salt together until smooth. Allow to rest for a good half an hour to give the flour time to absorb the water.
Preheat the oven to 200°C and put an oven rack about 15 cm below the broiler. About 5 minutes before the batter is done resting, place a 25cm cast iron skillet in the oven and turn the oven to broil.
Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven (don't forget to use an oven glove). Add about 1 teaspoon of oil, just enough to coat the bottom of the pan when you swirl the pan. Pour the batter into the centre of the pan, and make sure it covers the entire surface of the pan.
Put under the broiler until the top of the socca begins to blister and brown - it took mine about 8-9 minutes. It should be fairly flexible in the middle and crispy on the edges.
Use a flat spatula to work your way under the socca and transfer it from the pan onto a cutting board. Slice it into triangles (or squares or any shape you like), sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with more olive oil.
What to eat it with?
You can enjoy socca plain with some olive oil, or with loads of different toppings: guacamole, tapenade, hummus, feta cheese, etc. an you could also use it as a pizza crust.
Don't forget to share it with your loved ones, it always taste better!
The health benefits of Chickpea Flour
Great source of fibre, protein, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
- Strong in the B vitamins that contribute to our energy levels
- Helps improve heart health
- Stabilises blood sugarLowers the risk of diabetes
- Can help with weight lossLowers inflammation
- Strengthens the immune system
- Helps with digestion (good for those who suffer from constipation)
Source: http://health.facty.com/food/nutrition/10-fascinating-health-benefits-of-chickpea-flour/
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