Socca is a savory chickpea pancake enjoyed as a street food snack in Nice, France. Here, we’ve repurposed it as a protein-rich pizza base. You could choose to top it like a classic pizza, but this fresh take makes eating your greens a whole lot more interesting.
Salad Pizza
Ingredients
- Socca
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- 1 cup water
- 2 Tbsp grapeseed oil, divided
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- Creamy cheeze dressing
- 1 Tbsp raw cashews
- 1/2 cup crumbled extra-firm tofu, divided
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic clove
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp tahini
- 1 tsp white miso
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 Tbsp finely sliced green onion
- Smoky tempeh bits
- 1/2 tsp grapeseed oil
- 4 oz plain tempeh, crumbled
- 1 Tbsp low-sodium tamari
- 1 1/2 tsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Salad
- 4 cups mixed lettuce leaves, torn if large
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, soaked in ice water for 15 minutes
- Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories271
- protein14g
- fat14g
- carbs25g
- sugar7g
- fiber6g
- sodium308mg
Directions
01
Make the socca batter: In bowl, whisk together chickpea flour, water, 1 Tbsp oil, garlic, oregano, and salt until well combined. Set aside for 1 hour. While waiting, make dressing and tempeh.
02
Make the creamy cheeze dressing: In blender, combine cashews, 6 Tbsp crumbled tofu, garlic, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, tahini, miso, water, maple syrup, mustard, nutritional yeast, and salt. Blend until smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl and fold in green onion and remaining tofu. Refrigerate until ready to use.
03
Make the smoky tempeh bits: Preheat oven broiler and position oven rack about 6 inches from broiler element.
04
Toss 1/2 tsp oil and tempeh together on small baking tray or in ovenproof frying pan. Broil, stirring once or twice, until lightly golden brown, about 6 minutes total. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, whisk together tamari, maple syrup, paprika, and garlic powder. Add warm tempeh and stir to evenly coat in sauce. Tempeh should absorb all the sauce. Transfer tempeh back to baking sheet and broil again, stirring once or twice, until crisp, about another 4 minutes. Allow bits to cool to room temperature on baking tray, stirring occasionally. If not using right away, bits may be stored in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
05
Bake the socca: When socca batter has rested for 1 hour, place 10 inch cast-iron pan under broiler and allow to warm for 5 minutes.
06
Remove pan from oven. Add remaining 1 Tbsp oil to hot pan and swirl to coat bottom. Pour in socca batter and place back under broiler until socca is set and edges are lightly browned and pulling away from sides of pan, about 5 to 8 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes in pan before transferring to platter.
07
Assemble the salad: Just before serving, top socca with lettuce, tomatoes, and onion. Drizzle with about half the creamy cheeze dressing and garnish with half the smoky tempeh bits. Save remaining dressing and bits for another use. Finish with some freshly ground black pepper, if desired, and serve.
08
Tip: Unadorned socca is also a great accompaniment to other dishes. Try serving it alongside chili, soups, or stews. You can even enjoy it as a snack sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper and chopped herbs like rosemary, parsley, or chives.
READ THIS NEXT
SEE MORE »
Tempeh and Mango Curry
The stars of this delicious curry dish are yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, which are high in a form of carotenoids called xanthophylls. These compounds have more of a yellow pigment as opposed to their orangier cousins, the carotenes. While a powerful antioxidant, xanthophylls are mostly associated with maintaining good eye health. Mix and match This curry is easily adaptable to whichever vegetables you have on hand. Experiment to find your favourite combination.
Maple Butternut Apple Salad with Granola Croutons
Here, the breakfast favourite, granola, serves as a crunchy topping for this salad featuring seasonal delights, including sweet butternut and apple. The maple-date dressing is sure to be kid-approved. You can add cooked lentils to move it from side dish to complete plant-based meal. If desired, swap out butternut for pumpkin or sweet potato and add a creamy touch with feta or soft goat cheese. Date night Soft and oh-so sweet, Medjool dates are a great way to add natural sweetness to everything from baked goods to DIY energy bars and dressings. You’ll also benefit from their fibre and nutrients, including vitamin B6 and potassium, which aren’t found in refined sugar.
Orange Carrot Cake
What better way to celebrate healthy eating than with cake? Thanks to a healthy dose of orange fruits and vegetables, this cake is chock full of carotenoids, a compound that converts to vitamin A in the body and is essential for proper immune health and good eye health. Nibble-size it! Can’t wait to eat cake? Skip the frosting and roll the cake base into balls to create nibble-sized cake bites.
Halibut Poached in Tomato Red Pepper Sauce
Red vegetables and fruits are rich in lycopene. This plant nutrient is a potent antioxidant that also happens to provide foods such as tomatoes, watermelon, red peppers, and grapefruit with their characteristic colours. Lycopene has been linked to a range of health benefits including promoting optimal heart health and potentially preventing or slowing down certain types of cancers. Time saver You can cut your prep time for this recipe by using jarred fire-roasted red peppers instead of making your own and 3 cups (750 mL) jarred marinara sauce.