Melissa Thompson’s recipe for chickpea pancakes with herby ricotta

Melissa Thompson’s chickpea pancakes with herby ricotta and optional poached eggs. Photograph: Yuki Sugiura/The Guardian. Food styling: Rosie Reynolds. Prop styling: Louie Waller.

This dish is an ode to the magnificent chickpea. They are in the pancakes (as both gram flour and whole), and also crisped up and used to adorn the dish at the end, for a pleasing bit of texture. This is good for any time of the day, being at once light and fresh (thanks to the herbs), but filling, too. I like these pancakes with poached eggs, but they work equally well without.

Chickpea pancakes with herby ricotta