Socca Crisps
A French Chickpea pancake - made into a crisp
Of course we are fully aware that there is a fantastic restaurant in Mayfair which bares the same name of this beloved dish!
But its origins are much less grand and stem from a much more humble beginning.
There is no clear understanding of when and how Socca or it’s name came about, but Wikipedia does intimate that the chick pea flower appeared on a Roman Regiment and this is where « Farinata » originated in Italy and later became a typical food of the Ligurian Sea coast, from Nice to Sardinia The French version was adopted in the suburbs of Nice and this simple dish became a staple of South West France, due to its cheap ingredients and versatility.
We’ve had this cross between a pancake and ‘pizza’ on our menu since our opening in 2018. The French consider it a Galette ( savoury pancake ) and it’s made with 3 simple ingredients, chick pea flour, olive oil & water.
Its perfect neutral but nutty base lends itself to a plethora of toppings, however due to its plant based nature we’ve always topped ours with the most delicious of vegetables ( and of course some of the finest cheeses ) and has proved hugely popular within our vegetarian community.
( NB don’t forget on Mondays we offer 25% off all vegetarian and plant based starters and main courses in conjunction with Paul McCartneys Meat Free Mondays ! )
It’s a super easy recipe to replicate and do at home. You can even dry it out, and serve it as a crisp and use to dip Into tapenades and aiolis as the perfect ‘Apéro’.
Here’s our recipe and method for 2 large Soccas
Makes 2 large soccas
- 250g chickpea flour
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1½ tablespoons extra Virgin olive oil
- 250ml water
To serve
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the chickpea flour, salt, and pepper. Slowly pour in the water, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Whisk in olive oil, and fold in. Let sit for 30 minutes to an hour to thicken up a bit.
- When the socca is finished resting, Place a 10 inch pancake skillet or non stick frying pan on a high heat for a few minutes.
- Coat bottom the skillet in 1 teaspoon olive oil.
- Pour socca batter into the skillet and fry for 5-6 minutes, until it begins to turn golden brown. Remove from heat
- Top socca with your desired toppings! And warm through in the oven.
Et Voilà the perfect Socca
Bon app!