How to Bake Breadsticks

Yields: 12

Preparation time: 20 mins + 30 mins (inactive)

Cooking time: 20 mins

Ingredients needed to make Breadsticks:

• 1 lb strong white bread flour, plus more for dusting
• 9 fl oz warm water
• 1 sachet (1/8 oz) instant dried yeast
• 2 tbsp sea salt
• 1 ½ tsp fine salt
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for greasing

Cooking instructions for Breadsticks:

• Sprinkle some flour onto a couple of large baking trays and set them aside.
• Place the measured flour in a large bowl and stir in a dash of fine salt and yeast until well combined.
• Pour in few splashes of water and blend it into the mixture to form a soft, non-sticky dough.
• Place it into a lightly floured working counter and knead it for nicely for 10 minutes with your hand.
• Split the dough into 12 equal parts, each of around 2 ½ oz and roll each of them into round balls.
• Roll each ball into a 10’’ long strip, resembling a sausage with even thickness of 1’’ throughout its length.
• Lay them out into the dusted prepared trays, leaving a gap of 1 ½’’ between them and spread a greased cling film on top to cover loosely, ensuring that the entire arrangement remains airtight.
• Set aside in a warm spot for half an hour or until they rise up twice its original size.
• Warm up your oven to 400 degrees F.
• Peel off the cling film and brush a lashing of the extra virgin olive oil all over the breadsticks.
• Sprinkle the sea salt on top of them, followed by a dash of ground black pepper and place the trays in the oven.
• Bake them for hot oven for 20 minutes or until the breadsticks turn firm and turn golden brown, thus indicating that they are properly baked.
• Remove the trays from the oven and set aside until the breadsticks cool down completely.
• Serve alongside dips or hot soups.

 Image credit: Wikimedia Commons