If you are looking for a different summer recipe then you can try this one. It's a healthy snack with an avalanche of different flavors. It's tangy, it's creamy, yet it's healthy! The Socca flatbread is special. It's made with chickpea flour, so it has a nutty smell. Its crispiness is what appeals to most food lovers. It is a traditional flatbread originating in France; though some people think it's from Italy. So, you will find it being used in various French dishes. It used to be a common midday snack for the laborers. In France, Socca is often cooked in fiery grills by the roadside.
Feta cheese originated in Greece and it is made from goat milk. While other types of cheese contain fat, feta cheese doesn't have any fat. So, it's a healthy cheese. If you are a cheese lover, you can add as much feta cheese as you want in this salad.
Ingredients
- Chickpea flour – 1 cup
- Olive oil – 2 tablespoons
- Water – 1.25 cups
- Salt – to taste
- Cumin – a pinch
Tomato salad
- Cherry or grape tomatoes – 2 to 3 cups, halved
- Cucumber slices – 1 cup
- Olive oil – ¼ cup
- Lemon juice or white vinegar – a few tablespoons
- Garlic clove – 1, grated finely
- Herbs – a handful, freshly chopped
- Salt and pepper
Whipped feta
- Feta cheese – 4 ounces
- Cream cheese – 2 ounces
- Herbs – a handful
Cooking instructions
Step 1
Mix the tomato salad and let it stand for some time.
Step 2
To make the Socca flatbread, whisk all the dry ingredients in a bowl, that is, chickpeas flour, cumin, and salt. Then add water and oil to make a smooth batter. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a cast iron skillet. Preheat the oven for 5 minutes and put the skillet there. Pour half the batter into the pan and bake for about 18 minutes. You will notice golden color around the edges and this is when you must take it out from the oven. Then you repeat this process with the rest of the batter.
Step 3
Prepare the creamy feta by putting all the ingredients in a food processor. Add some herbs, pepper, and olive oil.
To serve tear off some chunks of crispy Socca. Dip it in the whipped feta and enjoy the fresh tomato salad. Another way to serve it is by spreading some whipped feta on top of the Socca. Then place some tomato salad over it. You will love it both ways.
Variations
This dish has lots of variations. You can use mascarpone or yogurt instead of cream cheese to make whipped feta. You can try adding different herbs like parsley, rosemary, thyme, and others.
Tips
You should know that the size of your cast iron will affect the thickness or thinness of the flatbread. In Socca, the edges need to be thin and crispy. A 10-inch cast iron skillet is perfect. Try to get the highest quality cherry tomatoes from the market. Your fresh garden tomatoes will also work. Cut the cucumber into thin slices. Add some olive oil and herbs to your salad and mix them well so that the flavor spreads throughout the salad. You can prepare the chickpea flour batter beforehand and refrigerate. It will lower your cooking time.
Health benefits
Chickpeas are very healthy. If you are on a weight management venture, then a Socca made of chickpea flour will help you to maintain or reduce your weight. It is loaded with energy and fiber. It reduces digestion problems. Though Socca flatbreads look, it will fill your stomach due to the presence of chickpeas.
You need a little bit of practice to make Socca perfectly. The crispiness of this flatbread is everything. So, you need to know the right batter consistency. The combination of feta cheese with cream cheese or mascarpone is awesome. The flavor of various herbs revitalizes your senses. Socca with whipped feta and tomato salad can be an excellent afternoon snack. You can also serve it to your friends when they suddenly come over to your place. It doesn't take much time to prepare and your friends will really appreciate the crispiness and creaminess of this wonderful dish.
