Artichoke Farinata

Farinata is a simple dish originating in Genoa, Italy. It’s traditionally vegan and gluten free, so it makes the perfect alternative to an omelette, thick pancake or flatbread. In Southern France it is called Socca.

Artichoke Farinata

Serves: 6 | Dietary: Vegan, Gluten Free

Ingredients:

• 200g chickpea/gram flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 600ml warm water
• Small handful of chopped parsley
• 30ml olive oil plus 1tbsp for roasting
• 75g artichoke hearts, sliced
• 75g sun blushed tomatoes, halved
• 2 tbsps capers
• 30g black olives, de-stoned
• Sprigs of thyme
• Pinch of paprika and Maldon sea salt

Method:

1. Pour the warm water into a large bowl and sieve in the chickpea flour, salt and paprika a little at a time, whisking all the time to avoid lumps forming. You will end up with a thin batter. Cover the bowl with cling film and leave in a warm place for at least two hours, or you can leave it overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 220C.
3. Remove any foam that has formed on top of the batter and stir in the olive oil and most of the parsley.
4. Heat a shallow baking tin (approximately 26×36cm) with 1 tbsp of olive oil. When the oil is hot, pour on the batter and sprinkle with the artichoke hearts, sun blushed tomatoes, capers, olives and thyme. Sprinkle with the paprika and Maldon sea salt. Return to the oven and bake until set and browning on top, which will take around 15 minutes.
5. Serve at once, cut into wedges and sprinkle with the remaining parsley.

Tips:

• Alternative toppings: caramelised fennel and onions; wild mushrooms and roasted garlic; foraged wild garlic or nettles
• Chickpea flour, Gram or Besan flour is gluten free and less starchy than wheat flour. Excellent for batters.