Socca for One : With Sundried Tomatoes, Kale and Feta

By Amanda Paa – Updated July 6, 2020

Have you ever heard of socca? I hadn’t either until I craved a crispy flatbread after learning of my gluten allergy several years ago. Imagine your favorite thin crust pizza only made of chickpea flour & a little olive oil, cooked on a blistering hot cast iron skillet. It’s a fine example of crunchy deliciousness that makes the perfect single lady meal when topped with in season fixings.

Solo dinners happen quite often around here in summer, as I enjoy coming home to relax and Brian likes to head out for an evening round of golf or a soccer game. As two very independent people, we both support each other in doing the things that make us happy whether that be together or alone. It’s part of the reason our relationship works.

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Socca for One : With Sundried Tomatoes, Kale and Kalamata OlivesBut on to the main topic –> Socca originated in France which surprised me. I figured it came from somewhere like India where they make many different flatbreads out of ground grains or lentils. Since I now have a grainmill, I can grind chickpeas and have super fresh flour, a very nice perk thanks to their team. I do have to say that grinding beans takes a little longer than grains because you have to grind fewer at a time otherwise the mill will jam. Not that I would know. Oops.

You’ll probably find several different ways to make socca around the internet, but my preferred method is to  mix it with equal parts water and a splash of olive oil, then sear it in a smoking hot cast iron skillet that’s been preheated in the oven. When I have fresh herbs on hand, I throw them into the batter, along with a pinch of garlic powder.

Socca for One : With Sundried Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives and KaleBut the best thing about socca? It works with every season or whatever you have mingling in your fridge, which is exactly how this version came about. I massaged a few kale leaves, chopped up some kalamata olives, green onions and sundried tomatoes, then sprinkled it with some fresh feta. It reminded me of a “just picked from the garden” salad on flatbread. Simple flavors, simply good.

And a single lady dinner wouldn’t be complete without a glass of wine now would it? I enjoyed it my favorite Chardonnay, but a Pinot Grigio would be just as nice. Bon appetit!

 Socca for One : With Sundried Tomatoes, Kale and Feta

Adapted from The Kitchn and Dolly and Oatmeal

½ cup chickpea flour
½ cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
¼ teaspoon salt
pinch of garlic powder
½ cup cup thinly sliced kale, massaged for a few minutes to soften in it
handful each of chopped kalamata olives, sundried tomatoes and green onions
feta cheese

Preheat oven to 500 degrees and place cast iron skillet (mine is a 10 inch) inside of it. Whisk together the chickpea flour, water, 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, salt and garlic powder in a small bowl using a whisk. Let rest for 20 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the oven using oven mitts. Set on a burner, which you turn onto high heat. Add remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Whisk the chickpea batter quickly and then pour into the hot skillet. Tilt the pan so the batter coats the entire surface of the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes, then flip socca and cook for another 2 minutes. Return skillet to oven, turn to broil and cook for 4 minutes until edges are golden brown. Remove from oven and scatter toppings onto socca. Cut into wedges and serve.

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August 21, 2014

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15 comments

  1. leilah

    I tried this recipe last night and it was a disaster… The skillet was waaaay too hot and the oil just burned and filled my apartment with smoke… And the dough just burned.

    • Amanda Paa

      Sorry to hear that Leilah! That’s happened to me before as well, when I don’t keep an eye on the pan and it gets too hot. Not sure what type of pan or oil you used, but super important to use cast-iron skillet and high heat oil, like grapeseed or coconut. I like to test the pan to see if it’s hot enough by dorpping a little of the batter on it, then seeing if it sizzles. Hope you have better luck next time,

  2. Thea @ Baking Magique

    I’ve never heard of socca but it looks delicious!

  3. Millie l Add A Little

    Love the look of this Amanda – what a perfect lunch for one!! :)

  4. Julia | Orchard Street Kitchen

    I haven’t tried socca before, but this looks delicious! It’s nice to have a repertoire of easy solo dinners. I like how you can change up the toppings depending on the season!

  5. Thalia @ butter and brioche

    i have never heard of socca before, i definitely will be making this recipe and reporting back!

    • Amanda Paa

      Thalia, you love crispy flatbread I think you’ll really like this. Goes so well with whatever you want to top it with it, even just really good olive oil and your favorite cheese!

  6. Alanna

    That looks so good, and so healthy too. <3

    • Amanda Paa

      Indeed! Although the health factor may be offset by the two glasses of wine I usually have with it :)

  7. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough

    I’m kicking myself as I read this post because I STILL have yet to try socca for myself, even though I’ve been meaning to for ages now. That’s it. I am making this this weekend.

    • Amanda Paa

      Oh, let me know if you do Stephanie! It’s quite addicting. I love it with a schmear of avocado too.

  8. Kathryn

    I’ve also struggled to get a nice crisp socca before so I’m definitely going to try your recipe because it sounds like the perfect quick weeknight meal.

    • Amanda Paa

      Kathryn, the first two times I tried it I didn’t have any luck either. It stuck to the pan and never got crispy. When I started preheating the cast iron skillet in the oven while the batter rested, it started to work! Heat is definitely the key. Just make sure you have a really good oven mitt so you don’t burn yourself.

  9. Kate

    I’ve struggled to get Socca cooked correctly, always ending up with a doughy, sticky mess. My skillet probably isn’t hot enough, or I’m not using enough oil. Or I’m just plain doing it wrong. I’d love it if you would be willing to show me your method some day.

    • Amanda Paa

      Yes, I’d love to show you Kate! It took me a few tries to get it to not stick to the pan. I think the key is letting the batter rest and preheating the cast iron the super hot oven in the meantime. I use about a 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, but my skillet is pretty seasoned, so you may need to use more if it still doesn’t work. This type of meal really reminds me of you though, simple and using whatever veggies are lying around so as not to waste anything.