Chickpea Crunch with Olives

The Chickpea Crunch with Olives is a delicious snack and a valid alternative to traditional crackers. Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients

• 250 g of chickpea flour
• Approximately 80 ml of water
• 50 ml of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of finely chopped rosemary (optional)
• 100 g of pitted black or green olives
• A pinch of chili powder (optional)

Preparation

1. In a bowl, sift the chickpea flour and add the salt, finely chopped rosemary (if you decide to use it), and chili powder if you like a bit of spice.
2. Slowly incorporate the extra virgin olive oil and begin to mix.
3. Gradually pour in the water until you obtain a smooth and uniform dough that detaches from the sides of the bowl. The amount of water may need to be slightly adjusted depending on the flour’s absorbency, so add it bit by bit.
4. Cut the olives into small pieces and incorporate about two-thirds of them into the dough, mixing well to distribute them evenly.
5. Roll out the dough on a sheet of parchment paper, aiming for a thickness of about 3-4 millimeters for optimal cooking.
6. Scatter the remaining olive pieces over the rolled-out dough and press them in slightly with your hands so they stick well.
7. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (356 °F) and, while it heats up, cut the dough into rectangles or the desired shape.
8. Bake the Chickpea Crunch with Olives for about 20-25 minutes or until they are golden and crispy.
9. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before serving.

The Chickpea Crunch with Olives are perfect to serve as an aperitif or as a healthy snack throughout the day. If you like, you can experiment with other herbs or spices to vary their flavor.

Did you know?

Chickpea flour is widely used in Italian cooking, especially in Liguria where we find the famous “farinata” or in Tuscany known as “cecina”, which is essentially a large, thin, baked crunchy pancake, but also in the traditional Sicilian panelle. Being naturally gluten-free, chickpea flour is also an excellent option for those following a gluten-free diet.