Chickpea Pancakes (Top with whatever)
By stancec44
That’s where the chickpea flour pancake called socca comes in. It is protein-rich and filling, but unlike a pork chop or a salmon fillet, you don’t have to remember to stop off at the store to buy it on the way home (except, of course, for the first time you purchase the flour). It turns into a batter with the addition of salt, olive oil, and water—no eggs, even! And while that sits for 10 minutes hydrating, you can prepare any raw or cooked vegetable component your heart desires (or that your crisper drawer hasn’t wilted yet)
- 2
Ingredients
- ½ cup chickpea flour
- 6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Kosher salt
- 3 garlic cloves, divided
- 1 15-oz. can chickpeas, drained
- 1 Tbsp. za’atar (or curry powder, chile powder, or frankly any other combination of mild dried ground spices)
- 1 small bunch Tuscan kale, stemmed, leaves torn
- 1 small fennel bulb, very thinly sliced crosswise
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Preparation
Step 1
Whisk chickpea flour, 1 Tbsp. oil, a pinch of salt, and ½ cup water in a medium bowl. Let socca batter sit at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour to let flour hydrate.
Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbsp. oil and 2 garlic cloves in a medium nonstick skillet over medium, tossing occasionally, until garlic is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add chickpeas and increase heat to medium-high. Cook, tossing occasionally, until chickpeas are lightly browned, 6–8 minutes. Add za’atar and toss several times to coat chickpeas; season with salt. Add kale and continue to cook, tossing occasionally, until kale wilts, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl, add fennel, and toss to combine. Reserve skillet.
Finely grate remaining garlic clove into a small bowl. Whisk in tahini, lemon juice, 2 Tbsp. oil, and 2 Tbsp. water until thick and smooth. Season with salt.
Heat 1½ tsp. oil in reserved skillet over medium-high. Add half of reserved socca batter to center of skillet and tilt skillet so that it spreads out to a thin 6"–7" pancake. Cook, undisturbed, until well browned and crisp underneath, 2–3 minutes (crank up the heat to high if needed to get crunchy edges and nice browning). Turn and cook just until lightly browned on second side, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining 1½ tsp. oil and batter.
Top each socca with chickpea salad. Drizzle with tahini sauce.