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Vegetarian, South and mountains

Panisses with green salad

Panisses are chickpea flour sticks, pan fried until golden, a specialty from Marseille. This recipe serves 4, takes 45 minutes, is rated medium because of the cooling time, and costs €1.80 per person. Success depends on letting the batter cool completely before cutting it.

Tonight, panisses from Marseille, those golden chickpea flour sticks pan fried, with a green salad.

Panisses with green salad
Total time
45 min
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.80
Calories per person
400 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Under a crisp golden crust, panisses hide a soft, almost creamy center with a mild chickpea flavor. This is a dish from the south of France that makes a nice change from bread or fries, with no meat or fish, yet it still fills you up thanks to the legume flour. The lemony green salad brings just enough freshness to balance the pan fried crust.

This is a recipe to plan ahead in your day, since the batter needs to cool before you cut and cook it. It works well for a weeknight dinner if you make the batter in the morning, or as a generous starter for a Sunday meal. Kids usually like the stick shape, a bit like fries, and the mild flavor suits them too.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Chickpea flour 250 g
  • Wateroften in the pantry 75 cl
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green salad 1
  • Lemon 1

The step by step recipe

  1. Bring the salted water to a boil with 1 tablespoon of oil. 5 min

    Season generously, chickpea flour doesn't have much flavor on its own.

  2. Pour in the flour in a steady stream while whisking nonstop, then cook the batter, stirring, until it thickens. 10 min

    Use a whisk first, then a wooden spoon, it becomes very compact.

  3. Spread the batter in an oiled dish to a 1 cm thickness and let it cool. 30 min

    Cover with plastic wrap to prevent a crust from forming.

  4. Cut into sticks and pan fry them in oil until golden. 10 min

    Turn them gently, they're soft in the center.

  5. Serve very hot with the salad dressed in lemon.

    A squeeze of lemon over the panisses is perfect.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pour the flour in slowly while whisking nonstop, otherwise lumps form and never fully disappear during cooking.
  • Spread the batter to an even 1 cm thickness, otherwise some sticks cook faster than others in the pan.
  • Use a hot pan with enough oil so the crust forms quickly without the panisses sticking.

The variations

  • Add a teaspoon of cumin or paprika to the batter for a light extra flavor.
  • For a faster version, make the batter the night before, it cools overnight and you only need to cut and fry it the next day.
  • For kids, cut the panisses into thinner, shorter sticks like fries and serve with a lemony yogurt dip.

What to serve it with

  • A glass of cold lemonade
  • A garlicky yogurt dip
  • Black olives as a starter

Storage

The cooked batter keeps for 2 days in the fridge, covered with plastic wrap, before cutting and frying. Already pan fried panisses also keep for 2 days in the fridge and reheat well in a pan to get their crispness back. Freezing isn't recommended, the texture turns mushy once thawed.

Questions about this dish

Why does my panisse batter turn lumpy?

The flour was added too fast or the whisking paused for a moment. Always pour it in slowly and whisk nonstop until the mixture is smooth.

Can you replace chickpea flour with another flour?

No, it's the ingredient that gives panisses their characteristic texture and flavor. Another flour won't firm up the same way as it cools.

Can you make the batter ahead of time?

Yes, it's actually recommended since it needs to cool completely before cutting. Make it the night before or in the morning for dinner, covered in the fridge.

How do you know panisses are cooked through in the pan?

They're ready when both sides are golden and crisp, usually after a few minutes per side. The inside stays soft, that's normal, it's the texture you're looking for.

How long does it take to make panisses with a green salad?

Count 45 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “medium”.

How many calories are in panisses with a green salad?

About 400 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 panisses with a green salad cost?

About €1.80 per serving, or €7.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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