Socca with Poached Eggs, Roasted Tomatoes, and Fresh Basil

Socca is a thin chickpea flour pancake commonly found in both Italian and French cuisines. For an easy, make-ahead brunch, make the batter and poach the eggs the night before.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 slice of socca, 1 poached egg, 2 tablespoons roasted tomatoes, 2 tablespoons basil

  • Calories 170
  • Carbohydrate 9 g
  • Protein 9 g
  • Fat 11 g
  • Saturated Fat 2.4 g
  • Sugars 3 g
  • Dietary Fiber 2 g
  • Cholesterol 185 mg
  • Sodium 220 mg

This Recipe Serves 8

Ingredients

1 cup chickpea flour
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
8 large eggs
1 cup roasted tomatoes 
1 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare a 10-inch cast-iron skillet about 12 inches from your oven’s heating element and set the oven to broil.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together chickpea flour, cumin, and salt. Slowly stream in water, whisking quickly to eliminate lumps, then stir in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Cover the bowl and set aside for at least 15 minutes. (Or store it in the refrigerator for up to 12 hours.) The batter should be a thin, pancake batter-like consistency.
  3. After the batter has rested, carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and pour in the socca batter. Broil for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the socca are browned and the center is set.
  4. Meanwhile, set a metal strainer in the bottom of a large pot, fill the pot 2/3 full with water, and add the vinegar. Crack each egg into a small prep bowl. Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the vinegar and water to a simmer. Using a long-handled spoon, stir the water in a wide, circular motion to create a whirlpool. Quickly, while the whirlpool is still going, slide in the eggs, one by one. Once all the eggs are in the water, poach them without stirring until the whites are set and the yolks are no longer runny, about 4-6 minutes. Using tongs, carefully lift the strainer out of the water with the eggs.
  5. Remove socca from the oven and cut it into 8 wedges. To serve, place socca wedge on each of 8 plates and top each serving with 1 poached egg, 2 tablespoons of roasted tomatoes, and 2 tablespoons chopped basil. Season servings with pepper.

Choices/Exchanges: 1/2 Starch, 1 Medium-Fat Protein, 1 Fat

From Whole Cooking and Nutrition by Katie Cavuto

Featured Article

Simple Food Swaps for Healthier Meals

Sometimes a simple swap is all you need to make a meal healthier when cooking at home.

On-the-Go Tips

Healthy Substitutions when Eating Out

Believe it or not you can still make healthy swaps to your favorite meal when eating out.

Featured Cookbook

Whole Cooking and Nutrition

by Katie Cavuto

Be inspired to live a healthy lifestyle and build a positive relationship with food; more than 150 vibrant, flavorful recipes make dishes that are unbelievably gratifying.

Find More Recipes

Healthy Recipes for Spring

This month features recipes from Whole Cooking and Nutrition by Katie Cavuto. Take a look at this One Day Meal Plan to see how you can include superfoods into every bite!

Read More

How Many Calories?

Calculate the number of calories you should eat each day to maintain your present body weight:

Please select an option before you continue.
Calculate My Calories

I don't do any physical activity other than what I need to do for my usual activities, such as going to work or school, grocery shopping, or doing chores around the house.

I do some moderate exercise every day in addition to doing my usual activities. For example, I walk about 1.5 to 3 miles a day at about 3 to 4 miles an hour. Or I do something else that's moderately active.

I am very active every day in addition to doing my usual activities. For example, I walk more than 3 miles a day at about 3 to 4 miles an hour. Or I do something else that's very active.

How Many Calories?

This number estimates how many calories you should eat per day to keep your body weight where it is now.

If you want to lose weight, you may need fewer calories. You should talk with your health care team for more personalized recommendations, but this calculator can help to get you started.

Calculate My Calories

*Estimates are rounded to the nearest 200 calories. An individual's calorie needs may be higher or lower than these average estimates. Developed from the 2010 US Dietary Guidelines for Americans.