Lentil Socca

My chickpea flour is all gone and with no dried chickpeas in my bulk foods stash (and not really into going through another ear piercingly loud experience), I made lentil flour! I dumped some dried brown lentils that I had into the food processor, turned it on and walked away. Processing the lentils was a way less painful experience, thank goodness.

It did not turn out custard-y like classic soccas do but that easily could be me leaving it in the oven for too long. I also used a spring-form pan this time and it was like magic! Super easy to pop it out so I didn't have to deal with the socca sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Lentil Socca

I am not sure if it is technically a socca since I used a different bean flour than chickpea but that's what I'm callin it anyways.

Ingredients:

1 c lentil flour

1 1/4 c water

1 t salt

any other flavorings and add ins that you choose! (my favorite so far is sliced onions and olives)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400F.
Whisk together all ingredients until smooth.
Pour batter into an oiled 10" spring-form pan (ideal) or pie pan.
Bake for 30-45 minutes, until the socca is pretty firm to the touch.

 Toes

Onion and Olive Socca

I have been meaning to post this for a while now (about 3 weeks...) and I am finally getting around to it! This socca accompanied me during an all-nighter trying to finish writing a 15 page paper. It was delicious and oh so satisfying. Quite different from my skillet socca and I have to say, I do prefer the texture of this method (baking) compared to preparing it omelette-style.

The inside was like custard. Drool.

Custard-y friggin' goodness.

Ingredients:

1 c chickpea flour (I made mine by food processing dried chickpeas)

1 t salt

1.5 c water

1-2 T oil

a few thin slices of red onion

a few olives, finely chopped

optional: a few sage leaves, finely chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F

Add oil to a 9-10" pan (I use a skillet because that's all I have)

Mix together flour and salt.

Whisk in water until batter is clump-less (this will be very thin).

Pour batter into pan/skillet.

Place onions, olives and sage thoughtfully into batter.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, until socca has a crust but is soft to the touch.

Optional: Turn oven to broil and bake for 3-5 more minutes for crispiness.

My unsuccessful attempt to remove it from the skillet...

 Horrible picture thanks to the quality of the pictures taken on my phone...

...oh how I wish I hadn't broke my camera.

Guest Recipe: Veggie Socca with Savory Almond Sauce

Martha Johnston, also known as my mom, made a socca of her own! Different veggies but same basic socca recipe. Here's her experience:

Mine was a comedy of errors. I did not have a non-stick pan and should have used more oil. I did it on the stove, could not flip it so I popped it in the oven. I ended up scraping it out and reforming it into 2 small pan cakes and re frying it. It still tasted great. 

The veggies in it I used was portabello mushrooms, red peppers, onions and dried basil.

Lookin' good garnished with sprouts, chopped scallions,

and raw almond spread (recipe below)

And here is the recipe for the dollop of goodness on top. Based off Yuri's cleanse recipes.

Almond Sauce (raw vegan)

Ingredients:
1 c almonds, soaked overnight
2 T sesame oil
3 T Bragg's Liquid Aminos (or tamari or soy sauce)
1 clove garlic, minced
2 dried dates, soaked for 2-3+ hours
½ lemon, juiced
¼ t cayenne, or to taste (or pinch red pepper flakes)
Coconut water (or water)

Directions:
Pulse all ingredients, except water, in a food processor.

Add water until desired consistency is reached, smooth and creamy.

My first socca

I have been eyeing socca recipes for about two months now but for no good reason, I have not gotten around to making one! Well, the other day Candice came over for dinner and it just felt like it was time.

A socca is an unleavened pancake made of chickpea flour. It is typically baked in a cast iron pan at 450F for 45 minutes to an hour however we did not want to wait. Therefore... skillet socca!

Savory Skillet Socca
This was way reminiscent of an omelet, in it's cooking method and it's texture. So savory and way too easy. I am foreseeing this as a staple in my dietary future. Adapted from Pure2Raw.

Ingredients:
2 T olive oil, divided
1/2 yellow onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 c plus 1 T chickpea flour**
2 t dried Italian herbs (optional but delicious)
1 t salt
1 1/4 cup water

Directions:
Heat 1T oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Saute onions and garlic until soft and starting to brown, set aside.
Mix together flour, herbs and salt in a large bowl.
Slowly whisk in water until all the lumps are gone (this will be thin).
Stir the sauteed onions and garlic into the batter.
Heat remaining 1 T oil in the skillet.
Pour batter into the skillet and cook for 5-7 minutes.
Flip and cook the other side for 3-5 minutes.

**I made my own chickpea flour by grinding dried chickpeas in my food processor. It was the most horrific sound, I had to leave the room and cover my ears to suffer through it. But it worked! I am not actually sure if this is the correct method, perhaps I was supposed to cook the chickpeas and let them air-dry before processing them... Oh well! I liked the way it turned out (despite the hearing loss).