Fork and Beans

Making food fun for the family

Caitlin’s Gluten-free Vegan Socca

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Congrats to Kierstan and Stephanissima! You won yourself some Enjoy Life chocolate chips. Email me at myforkandbeans@gmail with your addresses.

Caitlin is the beautiful soul over at The Vegan Chickpea.  She blogs good-for-you and innovative GF/Vegan foods, and I always love seeing what new ideas she has come up with. However, what I love more than her creative recipes, is the spirit behind which she blogs. She has got to be one of the sweetest people on the internet! I know I can always count on Caitlin to be supportive, loving, and encouraging. She really is the best…and I happen to greatly adore her.  I mean, how could I not? Have you seen how stinkin’ adorable she is???

Caitlin's Gluten-free Vegan Socca

I want to thank Cara so much for inviting me to guest post on her world-famous blog. Like many of you, I became friends with Cara during Vegan Mofo. I remember the first time she commented on my blog, thinking, “The vegan candy bar girl commented on my blog! Yay!” I must admit, though, her poptart recipe was what first made me realize she’s the coolest person ever. Anyone who makes homemade gluten-free vegan strawberry poptarts is seriously amazing. The girl doesn’t mess around. I am constantly amazed at all of the wonderful and creative gluten-free vegan treats Cara makes.

Being that I am also gluten-free and vegan, I am constantly on a mission to find creative yet delicious alternatives to gluten and animal-based foods. One of my most favorite foods is socca. For those of you who don’t know, socca is a flatbread made of chickpea flour. I first fell in love with it about six months ago and am constantly making different versions of it. It is so versatile and I love experimenting. I also am a huge fan of nut-based cheeses and much prefer them over fake cheese alternatives.

Everytime I post a socca recipe on my blog, Cara comments that she still hasn’t tried it but it’s on her list to make. Well, my dear Cara, this recipe is especially for you. Please make it and love it. And for everyone else, you should make it, too. Because it’s really freakin good.

Caitlin's Gluten-free Vegan Socca

Socca with Cashew Cheeze and Veggies

for socca:
½ cup garbanzo bean flour
½ cup cold, filtered water
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp sea salt

for cashew cheeze:
½ cup raw cashews
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
2 cloves garlic
¼ tsp sea salt
1-2 tsp olive oil

veggies:
2 asparagus spears, chopped
4 green olives, sliced
½ a leaf of kale, ripped into small pieces
*feel free to use whatever vegetables you have on hand

Preheat oven to 375. Line the bottom of a standard pie plate or 9″ cake pan with a round piece of
parchment and then lightly grease the entire pan. Set aside.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together garbanzo bean flour and water until no lumps
remain. Stir in garlic and sea salt. Allow to rest for about 5-10 minutes to thicken slightly.

Pour into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.

While socca is baking, make cashew cheeze:

In your food processor, process cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic, and sea salt until a fine crumble
forms. Add in olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, and continue to process until a dough-like
consistency forms.

After the socca is done baking, remove from oven. Spread cashew cheeze over the entire
socca(you can also just spoon it on if you are having difficulty spreading it) and add vegetables,
gently pushing them into the cheeze. Return to oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Slice up and serve. Enjoy!

About Cara

Based in Chicago with her husband and son, Cara is the creator behind the site Fork and Beans: A place where kids can have fun with their food.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AnonymousBurn

    Say someone threw you a curveball, like me for example, and was also restricted to beanless living. Would any other GF flour do and maintain the integrity of the flavor?

  2. Brooke

    I’m interested in that nut cheese. I had some this weekend and it was just terrible! I know there must be a good way to make it. I believe I’ll have a go at yours!

  3. Ashlae W.

    I can’t believe Im admitting this.. but I’ve never made socca. Looks like the first recipe made in my new kitchen is going to be this! Would it be weird to serve it with hummus? Chickpea overload? I don’t think that’s possible. Is it?

    PS – you are the sweetest blogger. EVER.

  4. Isobelle

    Hear that Cara? Caitlin gave you a socca recipe – NOW MAKE IT!
    Procrastination is naughty. I know that too well. 🙂

    Anyway – Caitlin, you absolutely are the most sweetest blogger in our vegan neighbourhood!
    I always find myself smiling as I read your posts. Especially when you post socca (which is one of my favourite things, as I may have said too many times to you before). I love the photos you took of it too! The green plate is such an awesome colour!

    • Cara

      Vegan neighborhood!! Haha. I love that..and ever more so that you spell it with a u. I think we should getCaitlin a trophy, or nominate her as the sweetest for the yearbook. And stop yelling at me Isobelle!

      • Isobelle

        It kind of sounds like a television drama series.. “Vegan Neighbourhood”
        You better not make fun of my usage of u in neighbourhood, now Cara! That is the proper spelling! I AM ENGLISH. YOU SPEAK MY LANGUAGE.
        haha, sorry. But the fact that you spell it without a u is funny to me.

        Yes! we should definitely make a trophy for Caitlin and her sweetness!
        The Vegan Neighbourhood’s Sweetest Blogger of the Year.

        I CAN YELL ALL I WANT.
        Sorry 🙂 I’ll stop yelling (I’m really not a yell-er. I have a soft voice – I can’t even yell at all in real life. Do you realize how hard that is when you have two teenage brothers and a pre-teen sister?)

  5. Cadry's Kitchen

    Asparagus, chickpea flour, and a cheesy cashew sauce? Caitlin is speaking my language! I’ve only made socca once, and it was one of her recipes. Very tasty! I look forward to making this one. It sounds like a mouthful of spring!

  6. Veggie V! @ Veggie V's Vegan Adventure

    I guess I didn’t realize how easy socca was to make. A definite must try! Question, though, I only have have garbanzo/fava bean flour. Think that would work?! IDK if I’ve ever seen just garbanzo bean flour in person. I have used the two bean mix flour before, so I’m familiar with the flavor. And, have you ever tried mixing the veggies into the dough? Is it still socca then? I wonder if maybe it wouldn’t cook right…Haha sorry for all the questions. Thinking this is a plan for tomorrow 🙂

  7. Richgail Enriquez

    Yum! I’m starting to try cashew cheeze recipes, this one is definitely bookmarked!

  8. Shira

    This recipe looks amazing and another great internet reminder that I simply must make socca! Thanks for the intro Cara (and lovely to be introduced to your blog Caitlin!) – I love Fridays at Fork and Beans! Happy Easter weekend guys! xo 🙂

      • Lou

        aww man that was gorgeous 🙂 and filling too, i had a little bute island fake smoked scheese that i sprinkled on 🙂 that was soooo easy to make.

        Im on slimming world at present trying to lose my post preganncy flub, but im failing miserabley. I have huuuuge weird cravings for stuff. The way i see it tho socca is just gonna be pure protien isnt it? its very low fat 🙂

        • Lou

          ps im pulling my finger out from today onwards with my diet, ive faffed around for 7 months, ive eaten all the bad in the house and i need to get some commitment and motivation hahah! bring on the steamed veggies!!!

          • Caitlin

            yeah! it’s totally good for you! protein and low fat 😉 i’m so happy you enjoyed it! i’m so honored that i could help you eat something tasty and healthy for your weight loss goals 😉

  10. Richa@HobbyandMore

    oh yay.. the cutest chickpea is here today! that socca looks gorgeous! i am going to make some for mom when she visits this summer, with all the cashew cheese, loads of veggies.. i’ll probably throw in some chana masala spice on top so mom wont have any reason not to love it!
    i think if you top this with some caramel or chocolate, cara will surely try it!. no? 😉

  11. keepinitkind

    Caitlin, this another great one! I’m like Cara- soccas are on my list of things to try, but I haven’t gotten to it. I think I’ve finally found a recipe that demands to be made now! It looks so yummy! Both you and Cara have such wonderful, approachable, down-to-earth quality about you which makes it such a pleasure to read both of your blogs. Thank you both so much!

  12. spabettie

    Cara, was Vegan Mofo your coming-out party? I’m pretty sure that’s how we found each other also… 😀

    I have been looking forward to these Fridays, each and every one has been fabulous! I love The Vegan Chickpea, I love socca, I love cashew cheese… I want the three of us to get together and make this! <3

    • Cara

      I guess it was! Hahaha. You were actually one of the first blogs I started to follow back in August (yes I’m slow to the internet apparently…) but I became known to others as the candy lady during MoFo 🙂
      Socca party at Caitlin’s…

  13. courtneyraejones

    Awe, it’s so true! Caitlin is always super supportive & encouraging! She can make you feel like a million bucks on the crummiest of days!

    I have to try the cashew cheeze. I cannot imagine it tasting anything but delicious. Looking forward to trying this recipe! 🙂 Great guest post.

    Have a great weekend everyone!

  15. Genevieve

    That’s the perfect introduction for Caitlin – I totally agree 🙂
    And I love the idea of topping socca with a savory cashew cheeze – sounds so yummy!

  16. Heather

    Apparently I am the only one who didn’t meet Cara through MoFo 🙂

    And Cara you are absolutely right, Caitlin is absolutely the sweetest person in the world and super cute!

    Caitlin- I have a bag of chickpea flour; guess what I am making this weekend? this!!! Great recipe as always, you rock girl!

  17. Baker Bettie

    I’m with you Caitlin! It feels like I sort of know someone famous when Cara comments on my blog! Ha.

    I just learned about socca the other day and am anxious to try it!

  18. Alexiasana

    i love socca but the last time i made it i tried to blend some mungo beans and add chickpea flour. it went so hard and was really not very tasty! i had to throw half of it since my boyfriend resisted to help me finish it. i love cashew cheese and will defnitely give this a go.

    • Caitlin

      hmm..mungo beans and chickpea flour? i could see how that could not be as tasty as hoped. definitely try socca with cashew cheeze. it’s so good 😉

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