The Yellow House

I may have said this already, but I am so ready for some bright spring produce. I’m feeling a bit weary of pastas and root vegetables and other winter dry-goods-based dinners. A little fresh color on my plate would go a long way right now, I think.

This restlessness is compounded by the fact that those lettuce seeds I mentioned planting are popping their bright heads out of soil already, almost taunting me because it’s. so. close.

But until then, we have to make do. I found inspiration recently in Mark Bittman. Being in my earlyish 20s, the Mark Bittman legacy is a bit lost on me. Obviously I understand that The Minimalist is wonderful (RIP), and it’s definitely given me some good recipes in the past few years, but when you’ve only had your own kitchen for a few years and have been reading the New York Times just a few years longer, I just don’t have a good grasp of the sheer longevity of his column. So I was gratified to see that Bittman rounded up 25 recipes from The Minimalist since its inception to share.

This socca (sort of a savory, chickpea flour pancake/frittata) made the list, and it immediately appealed. Chuck has had a bag of chickpea flour sitting around forever, and what do you do with chickpea flour, anyway? (Evidently I just didn’t know enough about Mediterranean cuisine, because after making it I can safely say that this is what you must do with chickpea flour.)

Outside of the sheerly utilitarian appeal of using up some of that pesky sack of chickpea flour, though, I made this recipe because it made me laugh. I’m pretty sure Bittman wasn’t trying to be funny, but when I got to the end of the recipe, I laughed out loud:

When the socca is done, put the pan on the table, cut it into random shapes, hand out napkins and have at it.

Cut it into random shapes, Mark Bittman? Why? Maybe I’m a bit of a pedant about people using the word “random” too freely, but I had this immediate mental picture of a group of people sitting around the table, carefully cutting their communal chickpea pancake into various shapes, like elephants or clouds. But then, when you’ve finished that, just hand out napkins and have at it. Easy.

This was good, filling, and aromatic from the rosemary and onion. You should get your hands on some chickpea flour if you don’t have the luxury of it waiting in your pantry. When it comes out of the oven, you can laugh a little to yourself and cut it into whatever shape you please for serving. (Although I feel like Mark Bittman would be a little disappointed in me because I very deliberately cut mine into boring, uniform wedges.) Bittman presents it as an appetizer for 4-6, but I think it would make a good simple dinner for two with some greens on the side.

§ 6 responses to Socca (Chickpea flour pancake)

• JGM
  25 March, 2011 at 5:47 pm

  I remember when the socca recipe first appeared in the minimalist. How hard is it to find chickpea flower? I remember not being able to find it in C-ville.

  Reply

  • Sarah
    27 March, 2011 at 5:58 pm

    Hi! The chickpea flour I used is Bob’s Red Mill brand, which is available in most specialty stores….I imagine if you went to Whole Foods in Cville, they would’ve had it (I’m not a huge Whole Foods fan, but sometimes they have good dry goods.) I’m happy you’re commenting, love :)

    Reply
• Christy
  7 April, 2011 at 10:17 pm

  I just discovered this recipe (http://wholelivingdaily.wholeliving.com/2011/04/meatless-monday-homemade-socca-my-new-favorite-recipe.html) the other day and was definitely intrigued. Now I’ve stumbled upon your lovely blog and I’m even more excited about the addition of onions and rosemary. Will definitely be whizzing up some freshly ground chickpea flour to try this out!

  Reply

  • Sarah
    7 April, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    Christy–thanks for your comment(s)! I’m glad you stumbled your way here–just went to your site and you two are just gorgeous. Glad you’re around. –S

    Reply
• Vicki
  15 August, 2012 at 4:37 pm

  I’ve just discovered your site, and am simply charmed. I ‘ve downloaded your e-book, read it, and read your post on work/”lifestyle” balance. I will be commenting on that post separately. You are definitely on the right track, you do deserve a balanced life!

  I’m so glad that you posted about this socca, it is a great reminder that I had intended to get some chickpea flour and to try Bittman’s recipe – I think it may be possible to find it at one of the Indian groceries in our area, or at whole foods. If I am unable, I may just order it from Amazon, although I could simply drive to Bob’s Red Mill – they are here in Portland, where I live. They are some distance from my part of town, however, so I’ll try the other sources first.

  I wonder, your quote from the end of the recipe seems as Bittman may have used another word than he intended (I own several of his cookbooks, which I adore, but if you write as much as he does, you are going to throw out the wrong word once in a while). Do you suppose Bittman may have meant to say,

  “cut it into random sizes, hand out napkins and have at it.” ??

  So often if you cut each piece the same size, the folks with tiny appetites, who are dieting, or trying something new which they are unsure of, will hack some of your slices into odd sizes anyway.

  Thank you again for bringing this back to my attention – aren’t archives great?

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• Daniella
  31 August, 2012 at 10:34 am

  lol, that’s actually pretty funny. I wonder what he really meant? Never used chickpea flour before. I made chickpeas based veggie burger once only to be disappointed by the chalky dryness :(

  p.s. i’m back reading all of your posts, just in case it looks like i’m stalking, hahaha… I just discovered your blog the other day and love it!

  Reply