If you’re not familiar with socca or farinata, it’s a simple unleavened pancake made with chickpea flour. The dish originated in Genoa and it’s commonly eaten in areas of Italy and France. Socca is very easy to make and traditionally vegan – I often make it as a quick weeknight meal because it takes just a few minutes to make and it’s very filling.
The socca batter does need to sit for an hour before you cook it though, so keep that in mind. If you don’t have chickpea flour in your pantry, don’t worry! You can find it in most grocery stores and in Indian or South Asian markets, where it might be labelled as gram flour. It’s cheap, cheap, cheap.
Chickpea flour is often used for savoury meals like socca, but it can be used in sweets too – like this gluten free strawberry rhubarb crisp or gluten free chocolate cookies – and makes an excellent egg replacer. I use it as a binder in things like red lentil falafel and other burgers. So it’s a good flour to have around!
This version of socca includes garlic in the batter and I’ve topped it with a fresh salad. It might not seem like a full meal, but with the chickpea flour and the lentils, it’ll definitely fill you up.
Recipe Notes
Socca doesn’t store very well – it dries out after a while, so it’s not very good on the second day. If you have leftovers, cut it into strips and pan fry in a little oil to crisp a bit and heat through.
To make this on the stovetop, heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the coconut oil, then fry it like a thick crêpe. The edges should appear quite dry before flipping.
The cucumber salad is more of a suggestion as a topping than the only possibility. I more often make socca and top with a simple green salad, because I have greens in the garden year round, unlike cucumbers. But it’s excellent when cucumbers are in season.
Substitutions
You can change up the flavourings going into the pancake to suit your tastes. I like adding herbs (basil and thyme are favourites) or spices like cumin and turmeric. Leave out the garlic if you don’t like it, or fry some mushrooms and onions to pour the batter over before baking.
Black (beluga) or brown (mountain) lentils make good substitutions for the green lentils, but red lentils and the large varieties aren’t very good here. Additional herbs, or different ones, can be added apart from the dill in the salad – or make this vegan cucumber salad and toss some lentils in.
Newsletter
More Gluten Free Mains
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Carrot, Red Lentil, and Spinach Soup
Summer Harvest Vegan Burrito Bowl
Chickpea Sweet Potato Burgers
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Socca with Cucumber Lentil Salad
Ingredients
Socca
- 150 grams chickpea flour
- 250 ml water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil for the pan
Cucumber and Lentil Salad
- 1 large cucumber sliced thinly lengthwise*
- 150 grams cooked French lentils
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 small handful fresh dill
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Socca
- Whisk the chickpea flour, water, olive oil, garlic, pepper, and salt in a medium bowl until fully combined. Cover and let this sit for one hour (or up to 12 hours).150 grams chickpea flour, 250 ml water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- Once the batter has rested, heat your oven to 220°C (450°F). Place a cast iron pan in the oven while it's heating to heat the pan as well.
- Once the oven is preheated, carefully remove the pan (it will be very hot) and add the coconut oil to coat it.1 tablespoon coconut oil
- Pour the batter into the hot pan and return it to the oven.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the pancake is lightly golden golden and pulling away from the edges. Let it rest for a few minutes before removing from the pan and serving.
Cucumber and Lentil Salad
- Mix the cucumber, lentils, garlic, dill, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Serve on the socca or on the side if you prefer. Top with extra herbs and/or nuts if you’re like.1 large cucumber, 150 grams cooked French lentils, 1 clove garlic, 1 small handful fresh dill, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Notes
* For American cup measurements, please click the pink link text above the ingredient list that says ‘American’.
Nutrition
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
This post was first published in May 2016. It has been updated with improvements to the text and recipe as of August 2020.
Alexandra Daum says
Thanks, Charlene! I love lentils, I could eat them every day!
Alexandra Daum says
Thank you!
Charlene Pors says
This looks so fun and delicious! I am always looking for ways to incorporate more protein rich lentils into my diet, cant wait to try this!
The Food Blog says
So nice to have a studio space and it sounds perfect! I love this recipe and need to try it. And your photos are gorgeous, too.
Alexandra Daum says
Thanks, Sarah! It's sure shaping up nicely now. It's very peaceful 🙂
Sarah | Well and Full says
Your photography studio sounds so cool! It must be nice to have a little space of your own to do your work 🙂