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Grissini (bread sticks)

Bread sticks, or grissini, as they are called in Italy, are a great favourite.
You can have them thin and crunchy (and made this way they keep really well in an airtight container) or you can have them fat and squashy. Either way, they make brilliant nibbles, or accompaniments for soups, salads, and other starters.
This is a simple and fun recipe for authentic grissini (bread sticks).
Prep Time3 hrs
Cook Time7 mins
Baking time7 mins
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, lunch, Snack
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Bread, Italian bread, Wheat
Servings: 10 people
Author: Jane Mason
Cost: $

Equipment

  • baking tray, lined with non stick parchment
  • pizza cutter or sharp knife
  • dough scraper
  • bowl, scale

Ingredients

  • 300 g Strong white wheat flour
  • 200 g Water
  • 1.5 g Instant yeast OR 3 g dry yeast OR 6 g fresh yeast
  • 3 g Salt
  • 1 tbsp Molasses optional - makes the dough a bit darker
  • 100 g Fine semolina
  • 4 tbsp Olive oil
  • 100 g sesame seeds, poppy seeds, nigella seeds optional toppings

Instructions

  • Measure the flour into a mixing bowl and make a well in it. Add the yeast and add the water on top. Close the well and let it sit for 15 minutes.
  • Measure in the salt (and molasses if you are using it) and knead well for 10 minutes by hand or machine on the lowest setting.
  • Let the dough rest for 15 minutes, covered with a tea towel. This makes it easier to roll out (see below). If you are in a rush, you can skip this bit but it makes it more difficult to flatten the dough.
  • Scatter half the semolina (or half the seeds of your choice if you are using them) onto the counter and place the dough ball on top. Flatten it out into a rectangle using your hands or a rolling pin. It should be no more than 1/2 cm thick. .
  • Brush the top with the olive oil. Scatter the other half of the semolina (or seeds if you are using them) on top. Cover with a tea towel and let it rest for 1 hour.
  • Line a baking tray with non stick parchment and pre-heat the oven to 230 degrees C and place the shelf at the highest setting (the one where you can still fit a baking tray in).
  • Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into thin strips, about 1/2 cm wide and as half as long as you would like them to be when they are done.
  • Take hold of each end and stretch them out to double their size.
  • Lay them on the baking tray. You can crowd them on, they don't spread out.
  • When your tray is full, pop it in the oven and bake them for 5 minutes. These crispy bread sticks do not need a second proof. You want them to be absolutely crunchy when they are done so you may have to fish one out and see if it snaps in two. If not, put them back in and bake them for a couple more minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. Store what you do not eat in an air tight container.