Grissini

17/11/2023

Grissini are a very popular Italian snack, originating from Turin in Piedmont. Traditionally, they appear as thin, long crunchy breadsticks. Here is the recipe to prepare homemade grissini:

Ingredients

500 g 00 flour
250 ml lukewarm water
10 g fresh brewer’s yeast
10 g sugar
10 g salt
50 ml extra virgin olive oil
Flour for dusting the work surface

Preparation

Crumble the fresh brewer’s yeast into a bowl and dissolve it with a little lukewarm water taken from the total. Add the sugar to facilitate the activation of the yeast and let it rest for a few minutes.
Place the flour in a large bowl or on the work surface. Make a well in the center and pour in the dissolved yeast, the oil, and gradually the lukewarm water. Begin mixing the ingredients from the center, incorporating the flour from the edges.
When the dough starts to form, add the salt and continue kneading vigorously until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and continue working for about 10 minutes.
Form the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly oiled bowl, and cover with a damp cloth. Let it rise for 1-2 hours in a warm place until the dough doubles in volume.
After rising, take the dough and divide it into small pieces. Roll each piece into a long breadstick of the desired size, trying to keep them as uniform as possible.
Arrange the grissini on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving a little space between each one.
Bake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 10-15 minutes or until the grissini are golden and crispy.
Let the grissini cool on a wire rack before serving.

Trivia

According to legend, grissini were invented in the 17th century for the future King Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy, who had digestive problems. The court baker therefore created an easily digestible bread by removing the crumb and leaving only the crust. Since then, grissini have become a specialty of the Piedmont region and are known and appreciated worldwide.

You can experiment by adding spices or seeds, such as rosemary, thyme, sesame, or poppy seeds, to vary the flavor of your grissini!