This yummy French side dish/appetizer of Provence (originally from Liguria, Italy) is a great alternative to french fries. They are a bit healthier too, as they are made from chickpea flour, and are baked, not fried. They are vegan, and gluten free too! Traditionally, they are fried; but I decided to bake them in the oven and they were delicious. They have a light, crunchy outside and a little bit of a creamy texture inside. An air fryer would work perfectly for something like this; however, I do not have an air fryer. So if you try that out, please let me know!
Directions
Grease an 8″ x 8″ baking dish with some vegan butter, and set aside. In a medium to large saucepan, add the water, olive oil and salt, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium/low, and add the chickpea flour. Stir with a heat safe spatula or spoon for about 8 minutes. The mixture will be lumpy but will smooth out once you bake later. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and let cool for about an hour.
Once cooled, preheat your oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or aluminum foil, and brush with some melted butter. Take the baking dish of the cooled mixture, and flip over onto a large cutting board. Cut into planks or fries. Place them on the greased baking sheet and brush them with the melted butter on all sides. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Then flip over the fries with tongs or a spatula, and bake another 10 minutes. When done, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste, or dip in some ketchup like regular fries. Enjoy!
