Socca (Niçoise Chickpea Flatbread)
In short: A thin, crisp-edged pancake of chickpea flour, water and olive oil baked in a very hot pan, the street food of Nice. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 240 kcal
Socca is the chickpea pancake sold hot from the oven at the markets of Nice. The batter is only chickpea flour, water, olive oil and salt, poured into a very hot pan and baked until the surface blisters and the edges crisp. It is torn into pieces and eaten with a lot of black pepper, straight from the paper. Resting the batter makes it creamy inside and gives the best texture.
Instructions
- Whisk the chickpea flour and salt in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the water until smooth, then stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil.
- Cover and rest the batter for at least 2 hours at room temperature. Skim off any foam from the top.
- Place a 30 cm (12 in) cast-iron skillet in the oven and heat the oven to 250°C (480°F) for 15 minutes, until the pan is very hot.
- Carefully remove the pan, add the remaining tablespoon of oil and swirl to coat. Pour in the batter at once. It should sizzle.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the socca is set, with dark brown blisters on top and crisp edges. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes for more color.
- Slide it onto a board, season generously with black pepper and cut into wedges. Serve hot.
Tips
- Preheating the pan is the key to crisp edges. If you have no cast iron, use a heavy metal baking tray and spread the batter thinner.
- Serve plain with pepper, or top with chopped herbs, olives or a drizzle of olive oil. Leftover socca is good cold and can be crisped in a hot skillet.
Questions and answers
Is socca the same as farinata?
They are close relatives. Socca from Nice and farinata from Liguria are both baked chickpea pancakes, though socca is usually thinner and baked in a hotter oven.
Is socca gluten-free and vegan?
Yes. It contains only chickpea flour, water, olive oil and salt, so it is naturally gluten-free and vegan.
Why is my socca gummy?
The pan was probably not hot enough or the batter was too thick. Preheat the pan thoroughly and pour in a thin layer of batter.
How long does it take to make Socca (Niçoise Chickpea Flatbread)?
About 40 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Socca (Niçoise Chickpea Flatbread)?
About 240 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 24 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 240 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 24 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
