Cecina Or Farinata Ligurian Chickpea Flatbread Food

CECINA OR FARINATA - LIGURIAN CHICKPEA FLATBREAD

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl add chickpea flour and gradually start adding water. Whisk well until the batter is smooth with an even consistency and without lumps.
• Cover the bowl with a plastic wrap and let it sit for at least 5 hrs. Better yet, leave it at a room temperature overnight. Otherwise you risk getting a grainy texture instead of creamy and custardy.
• Preheat the oven to 500F.If you're using a cast iron skillet place it in the oven as well.
• Skim off any foam that could have formed on the surface of the batter and whisk well after that. You'll notice how creamy and smooth the batter had become, especially if you let it rest for a longer time and allowed the flour to absorb as much liquid as it needed.Add 1 tbsp of olive oil and salt to taste. Stir well.
• Once the oven is preheated to the right temperature, spread remaining tablespoon of olive oil over your preheated cast iron skillet or pizza pan. Pour the batter into the pan.Using a fork stir gently the olive oil on the pan to create an even and well diffused texture.
• Carefully place the pan in the oven and cook for 10 minutes. After that turn the oven to broil and cook farinata for another 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
• It tastes best when seasoned with freshly ground black pepper and a few pinches of salt.

LIGURIAN FARINATA (SAVORY ITALIAN PANCAKE OR FLATBREAD)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add the flour to the water, a little at a time, mixing and seasoning with salt until all of the flour and water has been absorbed; Add Optional Rosemary at this point.
• Let it rest for 4 hours (Or even better overnight).
• After this time, a layer of foam will have developed on the surface - Scrape it off with a spoon.
• Add the olive oil and remove the Rosemary (Optional) - Stir until all the Oil is absorbed.
• Pour into an olive oil well greased baking pan - the right one is called testo, made of "tinned copper" It should be about an eighth of an inch thick, perhaps a little more - a small deep dish Pizza pan will do (We used an iron skillet).
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Remove from the oven when one of the corners (or the edge) starts to appear dark and has turned a golden color.
• Sprinkle plenty of pepper and eat immediately.
• ***It is of paramount importance that the pan is perfectly flat and level when in the oven, otherwise one of the corners will be thicker and will be undercooked when the opposite corner starts to darken. It tends to stick if you do not use enough oil. Also use parchment paper.