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Vegetarian, South and mountains

Socca with tomato salad

Socca with tomato salad is a chickpea flatbread from Nice, crisp outside, soft inside, served with a fresh tomato salad. This easy recipe for 4 people takes 35 minutes and costs €1.70 per serving. The key is pouring the batter into a scorching hot pan so it sears instantly.

Tonight, a socca, the chickpea flatbread from Nice, well peppered, with a tomato salad.

Socca with tomato salad
Total time
35 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.70
Calories per person
360 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Socca is the golden flatbread you eat standing up on the Old Port of Nice, wrapped in greasy paper, generously peppered. Here you make it at home, in your own oven, and the result surprises with its crisp edges and tender, roasted chickpea center. The tomato salad brings the freshness this dense, hearty flatbread needs.

This is a weeknight dish that breaks the routine, short on ingredients but full of character. Kids like cutting it into wedges like a pizza, and adults appreciate how filling something this simple can be. Serve it on a summer evening with just the tomato salad alongside, it needs nothing else.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Chickpea flour 250 g
  • Wateroften in the pantry 50 cl
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Black pepperoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Tomatoes 5
  • Basil 1 sprigs

The step by step recipe

  1. Whisk the flour with the water, a pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons of oil until you get a smooth, lump free batter.

    Add the water in stages, chickpea flour lumps are stubborn.

  2. Let the batter rest, then skim off the foam that forms on top with a spoon. 30 min

    Resting hydrates the flour and makes the socca more tender inside.

  3. Heat the oven to 250 degrees with an oiled baking dish inside. 10 min

    The dish needs to be scorching hot.

  4. Pour the batter onto the hot dish and bake until golden. 12 min

    Finish under the broiler for 2 minutes for extra crust.

  5. Slice the tomatoes, season them, pepper the socca and serve it in pieces.

    Eat it hot, it loses its crispness as it cools.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use a metal or cast iron pan rather than glass, it heats up faster and gives the socca a better sear.
  • Don't pour the batter too thick, a layer of 5 to 8 millimeters cooks more evenly and crisps across the whole surface.
  • If your batter rested longer than planned, whisk it again right before pouring, it will have separated a little.

The variations

  • Add finely sliced onions and rosemary to the batter before baking for a more fragrant socca.
  • Swap the tomatoes for grilled peppers and crumbled goat cheese for a richer salad in winter.
  • For kids in a hurry, cut the socca into small triangles and serve the tomato salad on the side.

What to serve it with

  • A glass of chilled rosé
  • Black olives from Nice
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

Socca keeps for 1 day in the fridge in a sealed container, though it loses its crispness. Reheat it for a few minutes in a hot oven rather than the microwave to bring back some texture. The tomato salad doesn't keep, toss it just before serving.

Questions about this dish

Why does my socca stay soft in the middle?

The oven was likely not hot enough or the pan wasn't preheated enough. The batter needs to sear the instant it hits the pan, otherwise it cooks without crisping.

Can I replace the chickpea flour?

No, it's the ingredient that defines socca, no other flour gives this taste or texture. You'll find it at specialty grocers or health food stores.

Do I really need to let the batter rest 30 minutes?

Yes, this rest fully hydrates the chickpea flour and prevents a grainy socca. It's also when you skim off the foam that forms on top.

Can I make the batter ahead of time?

You can make it a few hours ahead and keep it in the fridge. Whisk it again before pouring, since it tends to separate as it sits.

How long does it take to make a socca with tomato salad?

Count 35 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a socca with tomato salad?

About 360 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 socca with tomato salad cost?

About €1.70 per serving, or €6.80 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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