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Vegetarian, Maghreb and Middle East

Karantika with salad

Karantika is a baked chickpea flan, served sandwiched in pita bread with tomato salad and harissa. This recipe for 4 people takes 1 hour, including 30 minutes of baking, rates easy, and costs €1.40 per person. The key to success is heating the baking dish before pouring in the batter, so a golden crust forms within the first few minutes.

Karantika is this chickpea flan baked golden in the oven, tucked into a piece of pita with harissa, next to a crunchy salad.

Karantika with salad
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.40
Calories per person
530 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Karantika surprises first with its texture, a chickpea flan that's soft inside and crisp on top, seasoned with cumin and a hint of garlic. Tucked warm into a pita with a little harissa, it turns into a hearty, simple sandwich that breaks every assumption about chickpea flour dishes being bland or dry.

This is a solid pick for a meatless weeknight dinner, quick to pull together with pantry staples. Kids tend to like the soft texture and mild flavor if you go easy on the harissa, while everyone else can spice up their own pita to taste. Paired with the crunchy salad, it holds up as a full meal on its own.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Chickpea flouroften in the pantry 200 g
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Harissaoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Eggs 3

Fruits and vegetables

  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Lettuce 1
  • Tomatoes 3
  • Lemon 1

Bakery

  • Pita bread 4

Allergens Gluten, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Whisk the chickpea flour into 60 cl of cold water to avoid lumps.

    Add the water in three batches, the batter stays smooth.

  2. Add the eggs, crushed garlic, cumin, salt and pepper, then let the batter rest. 15 min

    Resting hydrates the flour, the flan turns out more tender.

  3. Heat an oiled dish in a 220°C oven, pour in the batter and bake. 30 min

    The hot dish sears the batter right away and creates the golden crust.

  4. Prepare a tomato and lettuce salad dressed with lemon and olive oil.

    Salt the tomatoes and let them sit a few minutes, they turn out more flavorful.

  5. Cut the karantika into squares, stuff it into the pitas with a touch of harissa and serve with the salad.

    Warm the pitas in a dry skillet, they become soft and won't tear.

Our tips to get it right

  • Whisk the batter thoroughly before pouring it in, lumps of chickpea flour won't smooth out during baking.
  • Use a metal dish rather than glass, it heats up faster and gives a crispier, more golden crust.
  • Let the karantika cool for a few minutes before cutting it into squares, it holds together better and comes out of the dish more easily.

The variations

  • Swap the harissa for zaatar or smoked paprika for a milder version that works well for kids sensitive to spice.
  • Stir in chopped scallions or parsley into the batter before baking for extra freshness.
  • For a quicker meal, serve the karantika plain in slices alongside the salad, skipping the pita altogether.

What to serve it with

  • Hot mint tea
  • Marinated olives to start
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

Karantika keeps for 2 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Reheat it for a few minutes in the oven or a skillet to bring back the crispness. It doesn't freeze well, the texture turns spongy once thawed.

Questions about this dish

Can I use a different flour instead of chickpea flour?

No, chickpea flour is what gives karantika its texture and flavor. Another flour would give you something closer to an omelet than a flan.

Can I make the batter ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix the batter up through the resting step and keep it in the fridge for a few hours before baking. Let it sit out briefly before baking so it's not too cold going into the oven.

How do I know when the karantika is fully baked?

It's ready when the top is deeply golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. If the center is still runny, bake a few more minutes.

How do I make this milder for kids?

Serve the karantika without harissa in the pita, or swap it for a drizzle of olive oil. The flan itself is mild, the heat comes mostly from the filling.

How long does it take to make a golden karantika with a crisp salad?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a golden karantika with a crisp salad?

About 530 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a golden karantika with a crisp salad cost?

About €1.40 per serving, or €5.60 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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