Chickpeas Escabeche With Plantain Strips Recipe (2024)

Ingredients

Yield:4 to 6 servings (about 2¼ cups)

For the Chickpeas

• ¼cup olive oil
• 3tablespoons store-bought or homemade sofrito (see Tip)
• 1small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• Salt, to taste
• 1(15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
• ¼cup white vinegar
• Spanish stuffed olives, sliced if large, to taste and to finish (see Tip)

For the Plantain Strips (optional), or Use Store-bought Plantain Chips

• 1 to 2green (unripe) plantains (about 6 ounces each)
• About 2 cups coconut or vegetable oil, for frying

Preparation

1. Step

   1

   Prepare the chickpeas: In a medium pot over low heat, heat the olive oil and sofrito until small bubbles appear.

2. Step

   2

   Stir in the onion and season with a bit of salt, keeping in mind how much salt is in the sofrito and that olives will be added later. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, 6 to 8 minutes; you don’t want it to brown.

3. Step

   3

   Once the onion has cooked, stir in the chickpeas and vinegar. Let simmer until the liquid has thickened and reduced slightly, 10 to 12 minutes, then remove from the heat. Transfer to a dish or container and let cool completely. Stir in the olives before serving.

4. Step

   4

   If making the plantain strips: Cut off the ends of each plantain, then, using a paring knife, make 2 to 3 lengthwise slits through the skin. Peel the plantains and then cut each in half crosswise. Using a mandoline, slice lengthwise into thin strips, ⅛- to 1/16-inch thick. (You can also use a vegetable peeler; the strips will be much thinner and will cook much faster.)

5. Step

   5

   In a large skillet, add about ¼ inch of coconut oil and heat over medium-high to 350 degrees. Ready a wire rack over paper towels.

6. Step

   6

   Working in batches, carefully slide the plantain strips into the hot oil and fry until golden, turning once or twice, 1 to 4 minutes total, depending on thickness. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove from the pan and lay on the rack to drain.

7. Step

   7

   When all the strips have been fried, season with flaky sea salt. Serve hot, with the chickpeas. Since plantain strips are more delicate than chips, they may break if dipped directly into the beans; instead, try spooning the chickpeas onto the strips, like caviar.

Tip

• Sofrito and Spanish stuffed olives may be found at some supermarkets, specialty grocers and online.