chickpeas

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Socca is a giant chickpea flatbread from the south of France and the Ligurian coast of Italy, where it is known as farinata. I really enjoy serving it for dinner parties because it is a delicious base on which to pile vegetables and protein and it is gluten-free and vegan which means highly inclusive. Here is one flavor pairing I really enjoy – socca with harissa aioli, shrimp, asparagus, and arugula.

Coating the socca with a layer of harissa aioli creates a sort of adhesive for the vegetables. Caramelized red onion adds a hint of sweetness and peppery arugula and scallions complement the crisp asparagus and delicate shrimp. Socca with harissa aioli, shrimp, asparagus, and arugula is a delicious meal in celebration of spring.

serves 4-6 (6 with another side)

ingredients

for the harissa aioli

  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 cup neutral oil
  • 2 tablespoons harissa paste

for the socca

  • 2 cups chickpea flour
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons parsley

for vegetables & shrimp

  • 1 pound shrimp, deveined with the tails removed
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 medium red onion, sliced
  • 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed (bend the ends off and wherever they snap is where to trim them)
  • 2 cups arugula
  • ¼ cup scallions, sliced

harissa aioli steps

Place the garlic cloves in a food processor and pulse until chopped. Add the egg, mustard, and lemon juice and pulse until blended. Slowly drizzle in the oil while the food processor runs to ensure the mixture fully emulsifies. Once the consistency thickens, mix in the harissa. There will definitely be extra harissa aioli from this recipe, so feel free to use it on any bread, vegetables, potatoes, meat, etc. The harissa aioli will keep for 3 months in the refrigerator.

socca steps

Combine the chickpea flour, warm water, 4 tablespoons of the olive oil, salt, pepper, and parsley in a large bowl and whisk until you have an even consistency without lumps. Let the batter sit for 30 minutes to an hour.

While the batter nears the end of its resting, preheat the oven to 450°F, and place a 10 or 12-inch cast iron skillet in the oven as it heats up. After 20 minutes, drizzle the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the pan and swirl it around. Pour ¼ of the batter (about 1 cup) into the pan. Place in the oven and bake for 12 minutes until it begins to brown on the edges and can be lifted from the pan. I like to flip it and cook it for an additional 3 minutes on the other side, but you don’t have to do that. 

Repeat with the remaining batter and while the remaining socca cook, prepare your vegetables and shrimp.

vegetables & shrimp steps

Fill a kettle with water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, marinate the shrimp in the lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and set it aside.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and add the sliced red onion. Cook until caramelized, 7-10 minutes. While the onion cooks, place the asparagus in a colander in the sink and pour the boiling water over it to blanch it. Immediately transfer it to the pan with the onion and saute for 5-7 minutes. 

In a separate skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Transfer the shrimp to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on one side then flip and cook for 2-3 minutes on the other side. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp as you will wind up with rubbery bands. The shrimp will turn from grey to pink when they are finished cooking.

assembly steps

Spread a layer of harissa aioli over the socca and top with ½ cup arugula, ¼ of the asparagus and onions, and ¼ pound of the shrimp. Cut each socca in quarters (you will have 16 pieces) and serve warm or at room temperature!

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Squash — with its simplicity and heartiness — can brighten up any meal, especially in the winter months. And sautéed squash is both comforting and nutritious.

For this dish, I used yellow squash from the store and a kabocha squash that we grew in our garden, but the recipe works just as well with any kind of squash you can get your hands on. Reserving and roasting the squash seeds is a great way to add extra crunch + texture and use every part of the vegetable!

The fragrant spices in the sautéed squash and chickpeas pair beautifully with the cooling yogurt sauce, which adds a tangy flavor and protein. I use a microplane to grate the garlic and zest the lemon which ensures a fine, even texture.

ingredients

for the squash and chickpeas

  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 yellow squash, sliced
  • 1 kabocha squash, peeled and sliced, with seeds reserved
  • 2 ½ tablespoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 ½ tablespoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 ½ teaspoons aleppo pepper
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon juniper berries, crushed
  • ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds, crushed
  • ½ cup parsley, chopped

for the yogurt sauce

  • 1 cup whole milk greek yogurt
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • ¼ cup parsley, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

steps

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Rinse the squash seeds and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Season with ½ tablespoon kosher salt, ½ tablespoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon of aleppo pepper. Roast until crispy and golden, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cumin, smoked paprika, aleppo pepper, crushed red pepper, crushed juniper berries, and coriander seeds. Turn the heat to medium-high and add the first batch of squash, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook on one side for 6 minutes, flip, then cook for another 6 minutes. Transfer to a sheet pan and cook the next batch of squash until all the squash has been cooked. 

Remove all of the squash from the pan and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chickpeas and cook over high heat until they begin to crisp, about 7 minutes.

While the chickpeas crisp up, make the yogurt sauce. Place the greek yogurt into a bowl and grate the garlic into it. Add salt, pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, and ¼ cup parsley. Mix all the ingredients until they are evenly combined.

To serve, top the squash with roasted seeds, ½ cup chopped parsley for garnish, and dollops of yogurt sauce.