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Faina

A rustic chickpea flatbread, golden and crisp-edged, that Montevideo serves folded on top of pizza or alongside a glass of wine.

⏱ 10 minPrep time
🔥 25 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Faina

Fainá came to Uruguay with Genoese immigrants and became a ritual of its own: a thin, firm chickpea cake baked in a round pan, often eaten stacked on a slice of pizza or with a glass of wine at the bar. It is humble, savory, and completely addictive, with a nutty flavor unlike any bread.

The chickpea cake that rules the pizzeria counter

Baked in a film of hot oil, fainá develops a golden, almost crispy crust with a tender, custardy interior that is nutty and faintly sweet. Cut in wedges and eaten warm, it pairs beautifully with pizza, wine, or nothing at all.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Whisk the chickpea flour, water, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until completely smooth, with no lumps.
  2. Cover the bowl and let the batter rest for 30 minutes at room temperature, then skim off any foam that rises.
  3. Stir in 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
  4. Pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or round cake pan and swirl to coat, then heat in a 450°F oven for 5 minutes.
  5. Pour in the batter (it should sizzle) and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges are deep golden brown, the top is set, and the center no longer jiggles.
  6. Cool 5 minutes, loosen the edges, and slide the fainá onto a board; cut in wedges and serve warm, on top of pizza or with a glass of wine.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The 30-minute rest is not optional — it lets the chickpea flour hydrate and gives fainá its silky texture. Reheat leftovers in a hot oven for 5 minutes to bring back the crisp edge.

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Recipe details

Prep10 min
Cook25 min
Servings6
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →