Chickpea Fries

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Chickpea fries (aka panisse) are a popular snack from the South of France. Crispy on the outside yet creamy on the inside, they make a perfect companion to your favorite dipping sauce. All you need is chickpea flour, salt, and water to get started!

💛 Why you’ll love this recipe

• Easy: Made with just 3 ingredients, this is an easy recipe that requires minimal cooking expertise.
• Diet-friendly: Chickpea fries are vegan and gluten-free, making them suitable for a wide array of dietary preferences and needs.
• Customizable: You can make all sorts of customizations, from seasonings to cooking options. There are endless combinations!

If you enjoy crispy chickpea fries, you really need to try our pan-fried tofu, vegan “chicken” tenders, vegan fish, or air fryer pizza rolls.

🍟 What are chickpea fries?

Chickpea fries are a popular snack in Nice and Marseille, France where they are known as panisse. These crispy fries are served at many restaurants and homes as a quick snack, appetizer, or light meal (ápero dinatoire).

Made with chickpea flour, water, and salt, you can see why chickpea fries have made their way into home cooks’ kitchens around the world. This recipe is our rendition of the dish, but depending on the area of Provence, you may find them shaped like triangles, cubes, or fries.

Each stick is extra crispy and crunchy on the outside. But once you bite in, it has a creamy and tender inside. Paired with aioli, the combination of textures and flavors is pretty incredible!

🤔 Panisse vs socca

Panisse and socca are often confused with one another because they incorporate the same ingredients. But, the two are different, and here’s why:

• Panisse: Chickpea flour and water are mixed into a polenta-like batter, which is then chilled, cut into rectangles, cubes, or triangles, and fried or baked.
• Socca: A type of flatbread that is also made with chickpea flour and water. The two ingredients are whisked together and baked immediately in a pizza shape.

📜 History

The region of Provence, France is well-known for its vibrant cuisine. Panisse is thought to have originated in this area, but there is debate as to whether it was in Nice or Marseille.

Most food historians believe panisse stems from farinata, which is an Italian chickpea flatbread. Similar to socca, chickpea panisse is a vegetarian-friendly dish popular all over the South of France.

🌱 Are chickpea fries vegan?

All you need to make traditional panisse is just chickpea flour, water, and salt. Given that they’re made from garbanzo bean flour, chickpea fries are naturally gluten-free and vegan, making them a great snack for almost anyone!

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Chickpea flour: Providing both texture and flavor, chickpea flour is the main ingredient and can’t be replaced with anything else. You can use store-bought chickpea flour (also known as garbanzo bean flour), or make your own by blending dry chickpeas in a high-speed blender.
• Salt: For flavor enhancement. Since the batter is mixed with water and cooked, we prefer sea salt.
• Rosemary: Adds a citrus and pine-like flavor to the dipping sauce. If you don’t like rosemary, try other seasonings like oregano, basil, cayenne, or thyme.
• Garlic: For an intense and zesty addition to the aioli. Add more or less depending on your preference. We also like to add garlic powder to our chickpea batter, but it’s completely optional.
• Lemon: For a bright, citrusy element in the aioli. If you’re in a pinch, you can always substitute it with lime or apple cider vinegar.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make chickpea fries

Step 1: Grease a pan

To begin this recipe, lightly grease an 8×8 casserole dish with avocado oil or another neutral oil of your choosing. Set that aside while you make the batter.

Step 2: Mix the chickpea batter

In a mixing bowl, whisk the chickpea flour, salt, and garlic powder together. Once combined, bring the water to a simmer in a saucepan. While continuously whisking, slowly add the dry ingredients.

Keep whisking until the mixture is smooth and thick, which should take about 3-5 minutes. If it’s not thickening up, continue cooking and whisking for a few more minutes.

Step 3: Chill the batter

Once the batter is thick and creamy, transfer it to the prepared casserole dish, smoothing the top with a spatula. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, pressing it down so it’s touching the chickpea batter. Chill it in your fridge for a few hours, or even overnight.

Step 4: Prepare the sauce

In the meantime, prepare the rosemary garlic aioli by finely mincing the rosemary or crushing it in a mortar and pestle. Mix rosemary, minced garlic, lemon juice, and vegan mayo together in a small container. Cover and transfer to your fridge to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 5: Cut the fries

After the chickpea batter has firmed up for a few hours, turn the dish upside down on a cutting board and knock the mixture out. Note: You may have to pull it away slightly from the edges to break it free. Slice the block into fries.

Step 6a: Fry the fries

If you are frying your chickpea fries, heat about a cup of neutral frying oil in a deep skillet over medium-high. Fry the pieces until they are golden brown on each side. Drain them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.

Step 6a: Air fry the fries

If you own an air fryer, lightly grease both the fries and the air fryer with cooking spray (we use olive oil). Set the air fryer to 400 degrees F, and spread the chickpea fries out evenly in a single layer.

Air fry the chickpea fries for 5 minutes, flip and cook for another 5-7 minutes. If they’re looking dry, add a little more oil as needed. You may need to cook the fries in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Happy eating!

If you have questions about making chickpea fries, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🧄 What to serve with chickpea fries

Although they’re great with just a sprinkle of salt or some melted vegan butter, nothing beats dunking chickpea panisse in a flavorful sauce like one of these:

• Rosemary garlic aioli: Measurements included in this recipe.
• Spicy garlic aioli: Creamy aioli with a little heat.
• Vegan tartar sauce: Chunky tartar sauce that’s zesty, tangy, and refreshing.
• Toum: Lebanese sauce that features a lot of garlic.
• Vegan ranch: A dairy-free option to traditional ranch dressing.
• Dairy-free sour cream: Rich sour cream made with a base of cashews.
• Vegan tzatziki: Traditional tzatziki made plant-based!

🌡️ Storage & reheating

These chickpea fries are best eaten immediately after frying. If you have leftovers, here’s what to do:

• Fridge: Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just note, they will lose their crispiness. But, they’ll still taste delicious!
• Reheating: Heat the fries up again in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10-12 minutes.
• Make ahead: You can make the batter a few days in advance, then fry it whenever you are ready to serve your chickpea fries.

♻️ Variations

• Herbs and spices: For a change in flavor, add herbs like rosemary, oregano, basil, or thyme. You can also try cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, or garam masala.
• Different shapes: Try cutting your chickpea fries into triangles or cubes for a new look.
• Baked: For a low-oil option, lightly brush the chickpea fries with olive oil and bake them on a parchment-lined pan. Remember to flip them halfway to cook all sides. Just note, they won’t turn out as crispy this way.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Let it thicken: If you don’t allow the chickpea batter to thicken enough, the fries will have no structure and turn out mushy. Be patient with whisking the mixture and the rest time.
• Neutral oil: Make sure to use neutral oil with a high smoke point for frying. Our favorites are safflower, peanut, soy, or canola oil.
• Test one: Try frying one at the start to make sure your oil is at the right temperature, and you know how long to fry it for.
• Use a thermometer: To monitor your oil temperature even more accurately, use a deep-fry thermometer.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More crispy recipes

If you enjoyed this chickpea panisse, be sure to check out more crispy recipes like these:

• Air fryer sweet potatoes: Crispy sweet potatoes made healthier.
• Vegan garlic bread: A savory, garlicky, and cheesy recipe.
• Molotes: Cheese and poblano peppers enclosed by fried flour and corn dough.
• Lentil patties: High-protein lentil kofte paired with lemon tahini dip.

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.