Italian Farinata Chickpea Flatbread (La Cecina Toscana)
Italian Farinata Flatbread aka La Cecina Toscana is the most incredible chickpea flatbread made with just 3 basic ingredients. It's crispy and delicious on the outside with the most delicious creamy middle.
Servings: 8 servings (2 flatbreads)
Ingredients
- 2 cups chickpea flour (besan or gram flour) (250g)
- 3 cups water (665ml)
- 5 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp sea salt flakes or kosher salt
For topping
- coarse salt
- olive oil
Instructions
- Sift the chickpea flour into a large bowl then add a pinch of salt (about 1/2 tsp sea salt flakes).
- Gradually add in the water whislt whisking to avoid any lumps (there may be an odd few). Add olive oil and stir.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest for 2 hours (no need to refridgerate.)
- Once rested pre-heat the oven to 450F/230C.
- Oil an oven safe skillet, pizza pan or baking tray with olive oil (about 1 tbsp should be enough). I used a 10 inch round pan (there's enough batter to make two this size).
- Pour the batter into the skillet until 0.5cm or 1/4 inch thick (it shouldn't be any higher) and bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden on top and crispy around the edges.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before removing to a cutting board. Sprinkle with a little pinch of sea salt flakes and cut into slices. Eat while hot!
Notes
- Grease the pan - Make sure your tray or skillet (even if it's non-stick) is well oiled. I use around 1 tbsp of olive oil, that way it doesn't stick to the tray and it can be removed easily.
- baking the flatbread - You can use any shape pan or baking tray you just need to make sure that the batter is 5mm 1/4 inch thick. If using a baking tray make sure that it isn't too thin or has any ridges. Thin baking trays buckle with the heat of the oven and ridges will give an uneven flatbread.
- Variations - you can add herbs such as rosemary to the batter to infuse or even add in veggies that need using up.
- Serving - La Farinata is always best served hot straight from the oven. You can simply eat it by the slice or serve it inside a roll or focaccia.
- Batter - The batter is very liquidy it shouldn't be thick at all.
Nutrition
Calories: 193kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 2mg
