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.