Lucini Cinque e’ Cinque Review and Giveaway
[Disclaimer: I received a package of Lucini products for free from the company. I was under no obligation to write this review or, if I did write it, to provide a positive assessment.]
[What you can win: three bags of Cinque e' Cinque mix--Traditional, Rosemary and Chili (vegan, gluten free, sugar free, ACD-friendly; two cans of vegan, sugar-free, gluten free, ACD-friendly pizza sauce; a bottle of olive oil; and a beautiful Lucini whisk to mix up your cinque!]
A few months ago now, I received a lovely email from Laura at Lucini Italia asking me if I’d like to give their new product, called Cinque e’ Cinque, a try. A native Torontonian, Laura explained that the Cinque acquired its name because “you’d get 5 cents worth of the cinque, and five cents worth of bread. Lucini doesn’t bother with the bread (so not necessary) but keeps the name.” Back in Italy, this standard rustic fare is made from chickpea flour and can be compared to a “chickpea frittata.” Lucini has re-created the authentic version here in North America using specially milled flour to achieve the traditional result, which is slightly crispy on the edges and smooth, creamy, and even a tad custardy inside. It’s traditionally prepared in a cast-iron pan, but that’s not necessary.
As you know, I’m always looking for more ways to eat natural foods, and especially natural foods that are vegan, gluten free, ACD-friendly and–in this case–really quick and easy to prepare. The packages contained a single ingredient–their specially milled chickpea flour–which I’d mix up with a wee bit of olive oil, salt, and water. That’s it!
What did I have to lose? Besides, Laura was so affable and relaxed about my participation that I immediately felt comfortable accepting the package knowing that I could provide her my honest-to-goodness, no-holds-barred response without obligation.
Well, I needn’t have worried.
For my first attempt, I decided I’d prepare the cinque “au naturel,” exactly as an Italian country Madre might make it. I used a full packet of the flour and baked it up in my cast iron pan, leaving half plain and covering the other half with greens sautéed in olive oil with garlic:
And you can see the thick, smooth center in this photo:
I was smitten, immediately. If you’ve ever had Indian chickpea pancakes (called cheela or pudla) or French socca, you may have a vague notion of what the cinque is like. I adore pudla and make them all the time, but this cinque was different: smoother, creamier on the inside without being too moist, and solid. The flavor doesn’t scream “chickpeas!” the way hummus sometimes does; it’s mild and subtle, unassuming enough to pair with almost any other taste, whether savory or sweet.
You can also use half a package for a thinner frittata that is perfect as a pizza base:
[Cinque "pizza" crust topped with Lucini pizza sauce, baby spinach, vegan goat cheese and oil-cured black olives.]
I’ve been eating cinque morning, noon and night. I think I’ve developed a little addicition. Luckily, it’s almost fat free and high fiber, with a good amount of protein (9 g) in every serving. Why had I never heard of these delights before?
Apart from the cinque itself, I was impressed by the company’s business approach and philosophy. They still prepare their artisanal products in small batches and use 100% natural ingredients.
The pizza sauce, for instance, contains the following: Tomato Puree, Vine-Ripened Plum Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, Garlic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Basil, Natural Flavor, Oregano, Fennel, Red Chili Pepper, Citric Acid (naturally derived). No sugar; no fillers. As the product profile tells us, “Lucini Italia’s Pizza Sauce is the only one on the market that uses fresh California plum tomatoes picked less than 12 hours prior to the sauce being made. It is never produced off season with tomato paste.” If I had the time, this is the kind of sauce I’d make myself.
Can you have a crush on a food? If so, Lucini has converted me into a teenager again. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been pining for the stuff, waiting breathlessly until our next meeting. Seriously, I have eaten cinque five times in the past three days. (Luckily, it is available at several Toronto-area stores so I won’t have to go through withdrawal).
Here’s how I had it for breakfast yesterday:
[Traditional cinque made as directed, then spread with one cup of the sweet variation of my Sweet Potato Spread, topped with baby spinach, arugula, black plum slices and a smattering of pomegranate seeds. . . return to oven for 2-3 minutes, just to heat through. A divine way to start the day!]
And I Want You to Try Some, Too!
The kind people at Lucini want to offer you a gift package filled with samples of the cinque mix, their pizza sauce, their olive oil, and a whisk to prepare your farinata (see photo at the top of this post).
To enter the giveaway for a free gift package like the one I received simply do the following:
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Leave a comment at the bottom of this post telling me why you’d like to try Lucini products.
For extra entries, do any one or more of the following (and be sure to leave an extra comment for each one, please!):
- Visit the Lucini Italia page and browse through their products. Tell me which product sounds best to you.
- Mention this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this page. Leave another comment telling me you did so.
- Mention this giveaway on twitter, including @rickiheller so I can see it. Leave another comment on this page telling me you did so.
- Mention this giveaway on Facebook with a link back to this page. Leave another comment telling me you did so.
- Sign up as a fan of Lucini on their Facebook page, here. Leave another comment telling me you did so.
- Subscribe to my blog (see icons at upper-right side of any page). Leave another comment telling me you did so.
- Sign up as a fan of DDD, here. Leave another comment telling me you did so.
- Follow me on twitter, here. Leave another comment telling me you did so.
The contest closes at midnight on Tuesday, November 16th. I’ll be giving it away to one lucky DDD reader whose name I’ll choose at random after midnight on Tuesday, November 16th, 2010.
Or, if you can’t wait to try the products. . . use this discount to buy!
The website Gilt.com offers invitation-only discounts of up to 70% off the retail price of all kinds of luxury products, but their sales last only 36 hours. They’ll be featuring Lucini products starting November 11th, so if you’re interested, be sure to sign up asap! To access the site and sign up, go here.
Good luck, everyone! 
oh my gosh you make it all look so amazing!! I have never made pizza at home yet, so this would be perfect for me to get started
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i think the pizza sauce looks great
http://www.lucini.com/products.php?ss=30&pc=7&p=45
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i subscribe via RSS
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There was a time in my life when I ate Tortillitas (Spanish chickpea flour pancakes) EVERY DAY. Those were good times.
I’d love to win this because I’m lazy and this is even faster than my classic recipe!
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I’m subscribed – always will be
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The vinaigrettes look amazing – no sugar, oh my!
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yum! that goat cheese, baby spinach and black olive would be perfect anytime for me … and I have some home-dried tomatoes that would be nice as well. This whol GF way is new to me, but I feel so much better! Thanks again Ricki for great information!
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I can’t believe I’ve never heard of this Cinque stuff! Would LOVE to try it!
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I tweeted – @AlmostVeganBlog
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I’d love to try some of their oils – the 100% organic, garlic infused, or white truffle especially.
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I “like” Lucini on FB
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I “like” DDD on FB
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And I follow you on Twitter! @AlmostVeganBlog
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And I am now subscribed to you through Google Reader
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ive tweeted http://www.twitter.com/cherylayres
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Your pizza looks wonderful!
I’d love to try Lucini’s products because I’ve never had cinque, socca, or the like.
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What products sound great? All of Lucini’s olive oils are 100% olive oil – apparently most of the olive oils in the stores are not. Unless it states 100% pure olive oil on the label and where its from – it probably isnt what you expect.
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and yes I am a fan of Lucini now!
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I love trying new things and thus would love to try this!
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I subscribe via RSS
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I am a DDD fan on facebook, too
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Looks fantastic . . . and no yeast, either, which means I can have it!! Yay! Would love to win!
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I would like to try Lucini’s products because I am impressed with their purity compared to similar products.
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“Liked” Lucini on Facebook, too!
Thanks for the review of their products because it’s scary to order from places without knowing how they taste!!
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Pick me! Pick me!
I’m already on your subscription base, and have been following you for a while. Like you I have a Black Lab at home and like you I’m gluten free. And I’m convinced that in a former life I was Italian — I even live in the Italian neighbourhood of town. Unfortunately I haven’t found Lucini products in Ottawa — and I’ve been on the lookout.
thanks for the great recipes!
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I would love to try these products because the chickpea pancake looks so good, and I love supporting companies that use pure healthy ingredients.
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I subscribe to your blog
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I love the look of their tomato basil soup!
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Hi Ricki – love the idea of a chickpea base for pizza or pancakes – a tasty option instead of wheat. Looks Scrumptious!!
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“Liked” Lucini’s FB page
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following you on twitter
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I ‘shared’ your FB post:
Ricki Heller
can’t wait for you to try my new food addiction, so I’m giving some away! Vegan, gluten free, sugar free, grain free, and quick and easy to make–want some? http://su.pr/2iMW0a
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the best product has to be the 10-Year Gran Riserva Balsamico! i love high-quality balsamic!
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subscribe to your blog
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Why those amazing pictures make me want to try this product! Thanks so much for the chance to win this
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The Roasted Hazelnut and Extra Virgin Vinaigrette sounds so different from anything I have ever tried. Very intriguing!
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I tweeted about the giveaway
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I am a fan of Lucini Italia Foods on Facebook.
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I am a fan of Diet, Dessert and Dogs on Facebook.
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I follow @RickiHeller on Twitter.
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Beautiful, Ricki, just beautiful! It doesn’t even look real, it’s so pretty. Well, the why I’d like to win is quite easy … I LOVE everything chickpeas! I’ve even looked for chickpea flour with no luck before. Sounds like a great prize pack!
Shirley
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That looks and sounds so delicious. I’m a fan of chickpeas in general, and I do have the perfect pan for cooking the cinque. I guess I’ll have to be pretty lucky to win this because this will be my only entry.
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I liked Lucina on Facebook.
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I like DDD on Facebook.
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I follow you on Twitter.
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I subscribe to your blog.
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I would love to try this – I’ve never tried socca or farinata – I wanted to for a long time, but I haven’t been able to find chickpea flour and as a cash strapped grad students can’t afford to order it online right now! I maintain a gluten free diet – right now I make pancakes from buckwheat flour, but other than that I don’t eat any bread substitutes b/c rice flour doesn’t settle well with me – this chickpea flat bread sounds like it would be great for pizza or with some baba ganoush!
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I subscribe to DDD
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I am a fan of DDD
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I think I make a product very similar to these as my chickpea flatbread.. Love the stuff!
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If I could only choose one product from Lucina I would definetely try the traditional cinque, but the fig infused balsamic vinegar also sounds very yummy!
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that sounds absolutely divine, and i’m all over things chickpea
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I would love a chance to try this amazing looking products! Thanks
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love their extra virgin olive oil, but i’d love to try their 10yr gran riserva!!
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i’ve been dreaming of gluten-free, acd-friendly pizza for months!! my italian blood is crying for joy over this giveaway.
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I honestly can’t decide between the chili and the rosemary cinque on their site. Both sound so good!
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would love to try one of the infused balsamic vinegars!
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I have been in a breakfast funk and this will cure me!
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I would love to win this! I have had a chickpea frittata once and it was amazing. I would love to recreate it!
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The rosemary cinque looks great as does the fig and walnut viniagrette!
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The Cinque e’ Cinque product sounds so unique and healthy! I have made chickpea crepes before, but never a chickpea-based fritata or pizza! I would love to try this product in order to incorporate more variety into my current low-sugar and low-GI eating plan. If I were to win a sample, I would probably make a fritata with roasted squash and carmelized onions
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Lucini’s Savory Fig-Infused Gran Balsamic Vinegar also sounds amazing. It could be a very versatile and simple way to add flavor to many of my favorite dishes and salads.
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I also signed up as a fan on Lucini’s facebook page!
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Oh, and I subscribed (I can’t believe I hadn’t been subscribed already! Sorry about that!)
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Yum – I’ve been meaning to try my hand at socca – even bought a big bag of chick pea flour at the ethnic grocery. But, I haven’t gotten around to it yet. This looks delicious!
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Whoah! I actually have my first batch of socca ever in the oven RIGHT NOW, so this type of dish is obviously on my mind. I’d love to try this mix too and explore the world of chickpea flour!
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I’d love to try these products because I adore chickpeas in any form… and have lately succumbed to eating them straight from the can.
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I also think the Tuscan sauce pouch on their website looks amazing!
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would love to try their fig infused balsamic vinegar!
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i think how they give back to various causes is awesome!
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I love pizza & need to as much eat sugar-free as possible & anyone that can combine the two has to be good
.
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I shared on FB
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I already subscribe to you
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I liked Lucini on FB
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sounds & looks yummy. I will look for Lucini cinque frittata mix & the pizza sauce at our co-op in Boise, Ida.!
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I’m already a fan of DDD
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I would love to try the Lucini products because they look amazing. And who doesn’t like pizza?
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wow, those look so good and sound so easy to make. i love trying new foods and this sounds awesome.
thanks for the giveaway!
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I mentioned your giveaway on my blog!
http://veganniche.blogspot.com/2010/11/mofo-9-quick-lo-mein.html
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I checked out Lucini’s website and after seeing garlic olive oil at wine shop recently I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I really want to try some and Lucini has some!
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I also follow you on twitter!
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I love the variations that you have come up with; especially the breakfast one.
I’m curious to try this product; since you mentioned that it is creamier and smoother than Indian pancakes (cheela – which I make often)
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Not sure if we overseas people can participate..? But if so, I’d love to try these because I love farinata and anything and everything that makes eating vegan and gluten-free just a little bit easier.
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Most of the Lucini products look good but I’m most intrigued by the bags of Cinque e Cinque. The marinara sauce would come in handy, too.
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I have really been wanting to try working in more vegan recipes into our weekly meals. These products look like a delicious starting point! thanks for the opportunity!
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Tomato gorgonzola sauce looks like it’s to die for! YUUUUM! It was hard to pick a favorite off of their site!
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I commented on twitter!
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I mentioned your giveaway on FB, and linked back to this page!
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I’m a fan on Lucini on FB!
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I’m already a follower of you wonderful blog!
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I like you on FB!
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I follow you on twitter!
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I’ve actually been experimenting with homemade sprouted chickpea bread with no luck thus far, so maybe this would give me some ideas as to why.
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I’d like to try the products so that I can basically recreate what you’ve made here!
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I can always use extra olive oil
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Wow! That looks great! Sounds right up my alley.
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The sauce looks great. Can’t beat tomatoes and garlic!
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I’d love to try any one of their Extra Virgin Olive Oils. Or maybe their Creamy Tomato Ricotta Sauce. Mmm…sounds delicious!
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your in my google reader too!!
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