Serves: 8-10Farinata is the epitome of Ligurian peasant food (the French call it socca). It's a thin pancake, traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven

This makes a great casual starter – top wedges of the farinata with the salad then roll up and enjoy.

2 cups chickpea flour*
500ml soda water
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
2 teaspoons sea salt
1⁄4-1⁄2 teaspoon chilli flakes (depending on how hot you like it)
1⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil plus extra for cooking

Put the flour in a large bowl and whisk in the soda water until smooth. Ideally you want it to be a pouring batter consistency (though this will vary, depending on the fineness of your flour). Stand at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. If it has thickened considerably, whisk in a little extra soda water.

Place a pizza stone or heavy baking tray in the oven then preheat the oven to 250°C.

Mix the remaining ingredients into the batter and pour into a jug.

Place an ovenproof frying pan (I use a heavy cast-iron one) on the pizza stone in the oven for 10 minutes or until hot. Alternatively, you can use a heavy-lipped baking tray, with the base lined with baking paper. Remove from the oven and add a little oil to the base of the pan. If using a tray, use a pastry brush to oil the sides and the baking paper.

Pour about one-third of the batter into the hot pan or tray – you want it to be no more than 5mm thick. Put in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the edges are crisp and golden. Remove from the pan and repeat twice with the remaining batter. Serve warm wedges with the following salad.

For the salad & vinaigrette
1⁄4 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
pinch of sugar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
100g rocket leaves
100g goat’s cheese

Combine the paprika, vinegar, mustard, sugar and oil. Add enough of the dressing to the rocket to coat the leaves. Toss to combine then taste and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Crumble the goat’s cheese over the salad.

* Chickpea flour is a gluten-free flour available from health food stores and Indian food stores.

Wine - A Marlborough sauvignon blanc with a little textural interest.