These fragrant Italian breadsticks are utterly addictive and perfect for Spring picnics, outdoor lunches and happy hour snacks!
Italian Grissini are crunchy pencil-sized breadsticks , they’re also known to be a suitable substitute for forks. Simple as they are, served alongside freshly cut salami & formaggi – a selection of Italian charcuterie & cheeses -, and a nice bottle of wine, they make the perfect Antipasti.
Although I followed the basic recipe, these breadsticks are easy to customize with your favorite flavors. Add chopped fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, seeds, spices to the dough, or sprinkle them with sea salt, sesame seeds, cumin seeds just before baking. You can make a different snack for every day of the week, or serve them all together at your next party.
Making your own grissini is really simple and the dough is absolutely fool-proof. You only need to mix all the ingredients together, knead the dough for a few minutes, let it rise, roll out the sticks and bake them. Easy right? In 4 simple steps they are ready to bite.
My favorite way to eat grissini is plain as they are, crispy and fragrant, they make the perfect nibble at anytime of the day. But if you’re looking for a great addition, Parma ham is the perfect companion for grissini. Wrapped up in prosciutto and served with a glass of Chianti, it’s the best way you can enjoy breadsticks in Italy, and at home.
- • ½ cup warm water
- • 1 packaged (2¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- • 1 tsp sugar
- • 165gr/ 1⅓ cup all-purpose flour, divided
- • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- • 1 tsp kosher salt
- In a big bowl add the lukewarm water, sugar and yeast. Whisk well. Add ½ cup of the flour to the yeast mixture and whisk well. Let the yeast activate for about 10 minutes. It should bubble up and rise. Add the oil to it and mix.
- In another bowl mix the flour with the salt. Gradually add the flour to the yeast mixture and whisk until the dough gets thick enough to be kneaded. Transfer the dough over onto a floured surface.
- Knead the dough, gradually adding the remaining flour. Knead for about 8 minutes then place the dough in a oiled bowl and let the it rest in a warm place for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Transfer the dough on a floured surface and cut it into small pieces. Roll out into thin breadstick.
- Place the bread sticks on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt.
- Bake in the oven until golden and crisp, about 15 – 20 minutes.