Grissini are Italian Bread sticks. They are usually thin and long individual pieces of dry bread and are often used as an accompaniment to many Italian meals. It has been said to have originated from Turin and are still famous there. The recipe is v simple using basic flour and yeast combo. Mostly leftover Pizza dough can be used to make Grissini.

Although usually Grissini are very thin, I wanted to make it little thicker - more meat the better ;-). You can shape your grissini's any way you prefer - straight or twisted. I went for more a rustic look and there's a story behind it.

( a little flashback)
As soon as I was married, I was all enthusiastic to try my hands at cooking. We had some relatives coming over and thought why not prove my cooking 'prowess' and prepared elaborate courses and this Grissini was an accompaniment to my soup. I took great pains to make it just right and as Italians would say "perfetto". Came guests and ate with gusto and also asked me from where I got the Grissini from. I said with a broad million dollar smile - "Home Made". She gave me back a too understanding a smile and was like - ok ok stop kidding. Tell me which bakery? Do you get in normal grocery stores here? Have to buy this. (slap) (slap) Realization really hit me hard! She dint believe me until the end and till date probably thinks that I had lots of help from "outside" to prepare the meal....!!!

So next time you know you have "such" relatives coming, save yourself all the trouble, make stuff like Bread sticks little rustic looking and not "store" bought! The effort is not worth it - me thinks! :) :) This recipe was influenced by Pizza dough made with Basil and Parmesan by an acquaintance and I liked the taste to try the same in Grissini.

Although usually Grissini are very thin, I wanted to make it little thicker - more meat the better ;-). You can shape your grissini's any way you prefer - straight or twisted. I went for more a rustic look and there's a story behind it. ( a little flashback) As soon as I was married, I was all enthusiastic to try my hands at cooking. We had some relatives coming over and thought why not prove my cooking 'prowess' and prepared elaborate courses and this Grissini was an accompaniment to my soup. I took great pains to make it just right and as Italians would say "perfetto". Came guests and ate with gusto and also asked me from where I got the Grissini from. I said with a broad million dollar smile - "Home Made". She gave me back a too understanding a smile and was like - ok ok stop kidding. Tell me which bakery? Do you get in normal grocery stores here? Have to buy this. (slap) (slap) Realization really hit me hard! She dint believe me until the end and till date probably thinks that I had lots of help from "outside" to prepare the meal....!!! So next time you know you have "such" relatives coming, save yourself all the trouble, make stuff like Bread sticks little rustic looking and not "store" bought! The effort is not worth it - me thinks! :) :) This recipe was influenced by Pizza dough made with Basil and Parmesan by an acquaintance and I liked the taste to try the same in Grissini.
  • Cook time:
  • Prep time:
  • Yields: Makes about 25 thin pieces or 12 thick pieces.
Ingredients
  • 1 packet active dried yeast ( 1 packt will have approx 2 1/4 tsp)
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water
  • 4 cups plain flour
  • 1/4 cup Olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh Basil
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
  • 2 tsp salt
Method
1. Place the yeast, sugar and water together in a bowl and set aside till frothy - takes approx 5-8min. Then sift the flour and salt into a bowl and stir in the yeast mixture along with olive oil.
2.

Knead well into a pliable dough.

3.

Roll it out on a floured surface and knead for 10min. It should be soft and elastic.

4.

Roll out into a circle and fill in the center with chopped Basil and Parmesan. Can add some minced garlic too.

5.

Bring the ends up, close the filling and knead well till the filling is well incorporated all over the dough.Place in a well oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. It will double in size.

6.

Now take the dough into 12 pieces. If you want it very thin, then it will yeild approx 25 pieces. Now roll each of the pieces into a long stick about 12 inches long. Place on a greased baking sheet and top it off with more parmesan or chilli flakes.

7.

Bake for 15-20min or until golden in a preheated Oven to 400F.

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15 Comments

By Sophie on Aug 15, 2008

We would like to feature this recipe on our blog. Please email sophiekiblogger@gmail.com if interested. Thanks :)

By Mansi Desai on Aug 11, 2008

that looks awesome DK! and pretty simple too:) nice one!

I'm gonna send you my ravioli by tonight for AWED, I promise!:D

By Usha on Aug 11, 2008

Looks delicious,would love to try this :)

By Vanamala Hebbar on Aug 11, 2008

Wonderful :)

By Illatharasi on Aug 11, 2008

Surprise for you in my blog;)

By bee on Aug 10, 2008

next time you have "such" relatives coming, get takeout. lovely grissini.

By Pearlsofeast on Aug 10, 2008

Excellent Divya,the bread sticks flavoured with basil and parma are awesome and I am sure ur relative was hard to beilive that it was home made. They look like u have picked up from Italian shops.Great

By Shilpa on Aug 9, 2008

OK..I could not resist. Tried it. Wow...they are soooo good and so easy to make. Thanks dear.

By Arundathi on Aug 9, 2008

DK - that looks amazing, girl! :) I have just got to try this one. Btw, I sent you my entry for the event - I hope you got it.

By Shilpa on Aug 9, 2008

Ahh..forgot to mention...

You know, for "such" relatives, you should keep everything ready and start baking when they arrive. So they know you did all the work :D.

By Shilpa on Aug 9, 2008

I have home grown fresh basil. So may try this next week. I love baking breads (and hate baking cakes) :D.

By live2cook on Aug 9, 2008

Oh! yeah! I have some friends like your relatives. I made nearly 5 dozens of Potato stuffed rolls for my son's birthday party and still they believe that I ordered it from a famous bakery called "Hot Breads".

You grissini looks great. Will surely give it a try. Drizzling a small pinch of sea salt will give more rustic look. Ah oh! our guests will take the fact that it is homemade with a grain of salt then. But that's ok :)

By Srivalli on Aug 9, 2008

Dhivi, next time you show such ppl your blog...those sticks looks awesome...really tempting...I am still wondering what to make...nothing is coming to mind!!..:((

By Divya Vikram on Aug 9, 2008

Perfect with soups..Addition of basil sounds interesting Dhiv..

By Uma on Aug 8, 2008

All your creations look like store bought Dhivya! You are such a great cook. No wonder the guests didn't believe you! And these grissinis look just awesome and delicious.