Ingredients
1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
1 cup warm water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1/3 cup butter, melted
Directions
Proof yeast in 1 cup warm water and 1/2 teaspoon sugar.
Mix salt and cayenne pepper with flour.
Mix dry ingredients with wet ones and work into a malleable soft dough.
Knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
Shape the dough into a long thin cylinder.
Cut a small piece of dough and using the palms of your hands make a taralli-style log, about 8 inches long and 1/2 inch wide (Dust the dough with flour if it's too soft to handle).
Take the ends of the 8-inch taralli log and twist each end in opposite directions, until the dough has a swirled or twisted look.
Form a circle with the twisted log, and pinch the ends together.
Place the taralli on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
Cover the taralli and let them rest in a warm room for about 1/2 hour.
Bake the taralli in pre-heated 350 degrees F oven until golden brown -- about 1/2 hour.
Notes
Photo: Mary Melfi. |