Bean

Savory Chickpea Crepe with Fresh Ricotta and Caramelized Onions

by:
September 23, 2013
4
3 Ratings
Savory Chickpea Crepe with Fresh Ricotta and Caramelized Onions
  • Serves 8
Author Notes

We first had slices of farinata, a thin chickpea crepe, in the Cinque Terre. Farinata is sometimes used in Italy as a base for pizza for those of us with celiac. Farinata is street food at its finest: hot, crisp, and full of flavor. This is one of the few foods where garbanzo bean flour truly works.
As much as I love thin chickpea crepes, I also like playing with the idea of a savory chickpea cake. Think of it as a savory appetizer, with a dollop of cold ricotta and a warm tangle of caramelized onions on top. —glutenfreegirl

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 cups warm water
  • 2 cups chickpea (or garbanzo) flour
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for the onions
  • Ricotta
  • 2 large yellow onions
Directions
  1. Making the batter. Pour the warm water into a large bowl. Slowly, shake the chickpea flour into the warm water, whisking as you do. Whisk the water and flour together thoroughly, then add the salt and stir again. The finished batter should be slightly thickened. Let the batter sit for at least 2 hours.
  2. Heat the oven to 450°. Grease an 8 x 8 metal pan. As the oven is heating, stir the olive oil into the batter.
  3. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake the cake until the edges are starting to brown and the top is firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
  4. Top with ricotta and caramelized onions (see below).
  5. To make caramelized onions: Slice 2 large yellow onions into thin slices. Set a large Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil and a tablespoon of butter into the pot. When the oil and butter are hot, add the onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened, then browned, and turned a deep umber brown, about 30 minutes.
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  • Jenn Sutherland
    Jenn Sutherland
  • susan g
    susan g
  • Sheila
    Sheila
  • Katy
    Katy
glutenfreegirl
Shauna writes about food. Danny cooks it. We grow excited every Saturday morning to go to the farmers' market. This time of year, a Billy Allstot tomato is enough to make us look like goons at the stand, jumping up and down with excitement. We will eat one slice with sea salt, standing over the sink. Another goes to our baby daughter. The rest might go into the smoker to make smoked tomato salsa, or thrown together with watermelon and good olive oil for a watermelon gazpacho, or stacked with smoked salmon and drizzled with horseradish sour cream. Every day is new. I have no idea what we're having for dinner tonight. But I'm sure interested to find out.

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6 Reviews

Sheila
Sheila May 27, 2015
Can these be frozen? I've baked it (in a 14 by 10inch pan), and cut into squares. No topping added so far.
 
Katy
Katy May 1, 2014
This recipe did not work for me at all, unfortunately. Too much batter for the size of pan listed, and way too liquid-y. It did not cook and I had to throw it out. Most other farinata recipes are 1:1 chickpea flour to water...I'll be trying one of those.
 
Kelcey
Kelcey November 5, 2013
This is my new go-to recipe for farinata! I made it last night and it was a major success - very delicious and satisfying. Thanks for sharing!!!
 
gabe
gabe September 29, 2013
Shauna is so amazing, I remember receiving a birthday cake from her in my mailbox, but somebody must have stepped on it because it was smashed. I ate the soft bites emerging from the least gourmet of places, though. And the cake, too.
 
Jenn S.
Jenn S. September 23, 2013
If I close my eyes, I can still taste the farinata we ate together in the late afternoon sun...I think this will be on the menu soon!
 
susan G.
susan G. September 23, 2013
Quantities for the batter are double those in the article. Is this for one 8 x 8 pan or two?
Sounds great!