Sautéed leeks and lemony, herb-filled creamy almond spread are layered over socca to create a unique, healthy spring or summer dinner. Vegan & gluten free.
This is so not my week. I’m going to keep this very short because I badly injured my thumb last night, and you don’t want to know how long it just took me to type out the recipe at the end of this post…
Jack and I made this last Saturday night for dinner. I got the inspiration from this photo of a leek tart that I pinned. Leeks aside, my recipe is entirely different. I decided to try socca (a chickpea flour pancake/dough) as a healthier alternative to puff pastry… not that it’s equivalent to a flaky puff pastry, it’s just something I’ve been wanting to try.
I wanted to create a sort of herb-cream cheese spread, but without cheese, so I made a dill and chive spread using almonds as the base. It was so good that we couldn’t stop eating it by the spoonful as we were making the rest of components of the meal. This spread could be used in so many different ways, as a dip for pita chips and raw veggies, or thinned out and tossed with greens as a creamy salad dressing.
Socca is one of those things that I think you have to try at least twice to get just right. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and delicious this was, being my first go at it. The only thing I’ll do differently next time is to put less batter in my pan (or use a larger pan) for a slightly thinner, less dense, crust. (It looks thin here but chickpea flour is surprisingly filling).
I topped this “tart” with sautéed leeks and, for crunch, some toasted almonds. We popped open a bottle of red wine and had a lovely casual evening out on the patio.
On another note, if anyone has a recommendation for splitting up fighting dogs without getting your hands in the middle, I’d appreciate suggestions… Our “kids” haven’t been getting along lately, to say the least…
Socca recipe adapted from Mark Bittman’s method.
Socca & Leek Almond Tart
- 1 cup chickpea flour
- 1 cup water
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- ½ garlic clove, minced
- Sea salt and fresh black pepper
- 1 cup almonds, blanched, skins removed*
- ½ garlic clove, coarsely chopped
- ½ teaspoon miso paste (if you don’t happen to have it on hand, just add extra salt, to taste)
- Juice and zest of one small lemon
- 1 teaspoon nutritional yeast (again, if you don’t have it, skip it)
- ½ to ¾ cups water
- 1-2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup mixed chopped herbs, plus extra for garnish – I used chives, parsley & dill
- Sea salt and fresh black pepper
- 2 small leeks, thinly sliced, white and light green parts only
- Sliced almonds, toasted
- Reserved chopped herbs
- Make the socca: In a medium bowl, combine the chickpea flour, water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, and salt and pepper. Whisk until smooth, cover, and set aside to soak for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 450 with a 12-inch cast-iron skillet inside.**
- Make the almond-herb spread: In a high speed blender, combine the almonds, garlic, miso, lemon juice and zest, nutritional yeast, ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and pinches of salt and pepper. Blend, adding more water and/or olive oil as needed to get your blade moving and to create a creamy, paste-like consistency.
- Pour into a smaller bowl and stir in the ¼ cup herbs. Taste and adjust seasonings. Place in the refrigerator while your socca cooks. When you’re ready to use the spread, you may need to thin it with a bit more water.
- When the oven is preheated and your socca batter has rested for 30 minutes, remove the preheated skillet from the oven with a pot holder, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, and brush to coat the bottom and sides of the pan. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the edges of the pancake have set.
- Heat the broiler and brush the top of the socca with a little olive oil if it looks dry. Broil socca for a few minutes, until its top is spottily browned.
- Let your socca cool a bit before assembling with the almond spread. In the meantime, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat, and sauté the leeks with a pinch of salt for a minute or two.
- When your socca has cooled, layer on the almond herb spread (you might not use it all), sautéed leeks, sliced almonds, and a sprinkle of the remaining herbs.
**I made this in a 10-inch skillet (I don’t have a 12-inch cast-iron skillet as the recipe calls for, but I really need to get one). Next time I would either make this same recipe in a larger skillet, or pour in one-half to two-thirds the amount of batter.
This looks seriously amazing! I’m now wondering how quickly I can get some into my mouth.
Beautiful pictures, and loving the white marble background! Definitely giving me food photography inspiration!
I keep hearing about socca, and I NEED to try it! This looks so delicious and decadent, while still being healthy. Perfect for summer!
I’ve been known to split up dog fights with a squirt bottle full of water. Squirt the crap out of them and that should take care of it. Squirting the crap out of them also works when they’re bothering you at the dinner table, trying to sit on furniture (assuming you don’t normally allow them on the furniture), etc.
And now comes the moment of truth.. I don’t own a dog. But one of the families for which I nanny has a couple of dogs and the squirt bottle trick works every. single. time.
PS – sorry about your thumb.
PPS – gorgeous socca “tart” – I really need to try socca. Like, now.
I’m so in love with socca and find myself making it almost once a week these days! Love your toppings here, I’ll have to add it to my rotating list of usual toppings : )
I’m sorry to hear about your thumb, I hate it when sh*t like that happens. I’m no fighting dog expert, but one time Cookie and my friend’s dog got into it in the living room. My friend first tried to break them up with her hands and she got nipped, but then we threw a blanket over them and the fighting stopped.
And socca? I’ve never tried it but have no doubt I’d love it!
Hi there
I just discovered your site from a link on Healthy Green Kitchen. Can’t wait to explore!
On the dogs – I learnt a lot reading through posts on a UK staffy site http://www.staffyclub.com/en/discussion-forum and a US site http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/forum/general-bdb-forums/. Check both out, there’s lots of useful information on multiple dog households, how to manage aggression/anxiety in dogs, pre-empt fights by minimising triggers in the environment, and strategies for keeping all your dogs safe and satisfied at home. I use the UK one more (less macho) but both are good for the breadth of experience and skill the posters share whether you own bull-breeds or not. You’re bound to find something that suits you, your home and how you like to relate to your dogs. 🙂
Good luck, Anita
Thanks Anita, I’ll check out these links. I love Healthy Green Kitchen 🙂
That socca sounds great–almond cheese and leeks, yes please! And I hope your thumb feels better soon!
Try a full throttle hose on the dogs. It works in the movies…
What a trooper you are, so sorry to hear about your thumb!
But such a lovely tart!
this sounds delicious.
i have two giant dogs, a pyrenees and a newfoundland both females. the newfoundland came second. they would do great for the most part except around feeding time, as they both tried to take the more dominating role, one night it exploded and the went at so much that i could not stop them by just yelling. i screamed as i tried to separate them, i felt anxious and scared for them finally after a few attempts like holding a chair and bagging it they separated but i knew i need help i was freaked out. i called my brother in hysterics, he came a few minutes later and told me exactly what to do and it works. when they start to show even the slightest aggression, grab their leashes and hooked them on then make them sit ( not lie down just sit) do this till they stop looking at you, they will keep staring as they try to dominate you once they look away detach leas and walk away no praise at that time, repeat every single time there is even a hint of aggression, soon you will just have to grab the leashes and they will sit and finally stop all together, i was amazed how in a few days it was all over.
sorry you got hurt, that is the scariest when you know it is done by dogs you love. this will work.
ps. my brother is animal trainer, very large and wild 🙂 i was glad to have him quickly give me some help
Thanks Nadia, I’ll try this.
Hi there, just discovered your site recently and loving it! I am a huge fan of socca, and the herbed almond spread sounds out of this world. Great combination.
So sorry to hear about the injury, hope it heals speedily!
Water, for separating the babies. Just a squirt bottle if inside and out the hose. Hope this helps. The recipe looks amazing.
Thanks Holly, I’m going to try keeping a squirt bottle nearby.
That looks delicious! I’m not vegan or gluten-free or anything but it really looks and sounds yummy so I’m going to try it.
When I have reacted quickly to break up a dog scuffle, I yell REALLY loudly and slam into the fight with my hip – I believe this is a “hip check” in some sport. It has worked so far. Slam into them to stop the fight, then grab whomever’s collar and yell at the other one (if there is not another person to help). Still, it’s very dangerous getting between dogs.
Can’t believe this is vegan. It looks really good and I think it could even fool non vegans! Thanks for sharing.
Sounds yummy! I’ve never heard of socca before but any alternative to puff pastry is fine by me. If the almond spread is as good as you say I will definitely be trying it. I’ve been on a major “lets blend this and this and this green stuff and see what it tastes like” kick. Carrot greens, fennel greens, tofu, pine nuts…yeah, I think I’d like your almond spread : )
Sorry about your thumb, but this looks like an incredibly delicious socca. Oh my! I should find myself some more leeks to make it myself! Yum~
Oh geez, sorry about your thumb but thank you for powering through recipe typing to give us this beauty!
I love all the components of these tarts and so the combination sounds just perfect.
Jeanine, that spread sounds so delicious. And on socca? Yum. Hope your thumb feels better soon and your doggies get a bit friendlier with each other. I’ve heard that a cool bourbon on ice is a doctor-recommended coping strategy 🙂