Panelle

You may have eaten panelle served as “chickpea fries,” and that’s not a bad name for them. You make a thick porridge of chickpea flour, spread it evenly into a pan and let it cool. As with thick polenta (which this resembles), you can then cut the paste into any shape you like — diamonds, squares or French fries, and fry until golden. They are not only among the easiest things to fry (there’s very little spattering), but they’re also gorgeous, and better than “real” fries in just about every regard.

Ingredients

• Vegetable or olive oil for greasing and frying
• 1 cup chickpea flour
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

    193 calories; 12 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 14 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 15 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
  Powered by DiningAndCooking.com

4 to 6 appetizer servings.

Preparation

1. Grease an 8-by-8 baking dish or a quarter sheet pan with some oil. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a small saucepan. Put the chickpea flour in a large bowl. When the water comes to a boil, gradually add it to the bowl with the chickpea flour, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Scrape the mixture into the saucepan you used to boil the water, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce to a gentle simmer, stir in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and cook for just a minute.
2. Scoop the chickpea mixture onto the sheet pan and spread it into an even layer. Let it cool, and cover loosely with parchment or plastic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
3. Put at least 1/4 inch oil in a large skillet over medium heat; heat to 250. Cut the chickpea mixture into French fries, about 3 inches long; blot any excess moisture with a paper towel. Working in batches, gently drop them into the hot oil. Cook, rotating them occasionally until they’re golden all over, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain fries on paper towels and immediately sprinkle with salt and lots of pepper. Serve hot, with lemon wedges.

45 minutes