Italian Bread Knots - Pane Di Pasta Tenera Condita
There is a group of food bloggers who call themselves the "Bread Baking Babes" (a.k.a. BBB) and they get together every month to bake bread, naturally, and I have been watching their monthly efforts for a while now. I guess my love for baking bread (and eating it too) isn't much of a secret and this
Ingredients
For the Biga:
- 200 g all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
- 170 ml water
For the Dough:
- biga from above
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 200 - 260 ml water warm
- 1 3/4 tsps active dry yeast
- 25 g extra-virgin olive oil
- 30 g salted butter chilled
- 12 g honey
- 12 g salt
Instructions
- Make the Biga by dissolving the yeast in a little water (warm) and quickly work the dough together.
- Put it in a container, cover it with a half closed lid or kitchen towel and leave it for 15-24 hrs (overnight for about 12 hours).
- To make the dough, put the flour either in a big bowl or on a baking board, add the lard (or chilled butter) and mix it with your fingers until it has 'crumbled' and is completely mixed with the flour.
- Dissolve the yeast in little tepid water and add it to the flour. Mix as well as you can. Mix salt, olive oil and honey with the handwarm water and add it to the flour. Now work it until it holds together and then add the biga.
- Work the dough until it is smooth and doesn't stick. Put it into a big bowl, cover it with plastic film and leave to rise until it has doubled.
- Now take up the dough and divide it into 12 equal parts and roll them it into long strands (about 30-35 cm).
- To make the knots, roll out the dough into even long strands and lay them out on a flat surface.
- 2. Make a semi-circle with the dough strands, and bring the ends towardsyou and cross them.
- 3. Then twist the two ends together a twice, like inthe photo, somewhat like when shaping a pretzel.
- Now lift the upperpart of the circle and bring it towards you, folding it over the twisted part.
- 5. Tuck the two ends of the twisted part under the knot carefully, while lifting the roll from the working surface. This will make the knot part more prominent and it hides the ends.
- Put the knots on baking sheets and leave to rise (covered) until they have doubled in size (about 15 to 20 minutes).
- Bake in a 210xb0C (420xb0F ) for about 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
These rolls were quite easy to make. Shaping the rolls took a little practice but wasn't too difficult. The rolls were a bit crusty with a very soft crumb and absolutely delicious. I would recommend trying out these rolls, and wouldn't be surprised if they became a family favourite.
Serve them with soup or make them into sandwiches, perhaps. Slather them with butter and jam or just eat them as they are, fresh from the oven, with a cup of coffee or tea. They're delicious whichever way you choose to eat them and if you have any leftovers, these rolls freeze very well.