Garlic Knots

Even though making bread, particularly yeast breads is time consuming, there is something very calming and relaxing about it too. I love making all kinds of breads. I love eating all kinds of breads as well. I decided to make some garlic knots for a change of pace. I had fun making these garlic knots. Believe it or knot, this delicious doughy snack was apparently created in New York City. Garlic knots were invented to prevent waste. In 1973, a pizzeria in Queens, NY came up with the garlic knot as a way of not wasting leftover pizza dough scraps, although pizza makers in NY had been making garlic knots for quite a few years prior to this too. This totally works for me. Since I have a have a passion for using up leftovers, and as you all know, I love bread and I love garlic, so this is totally up my alley. Bread and garlic are two things I don’t know if I could live without. They are both very good on their own, but are even better when combined. To me, that is just a match made in Heaven. All I need is butter, and life would be just perfect.

Garlic Knots

1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

6 TBSP butter, melted and separated

1 tsp sugar

2 tsp dry active yeast

1 egg, separated

2 tsp salt

3 1/2- 4 cups flour

1 TBSP garlic

Mix the 2 cups of the flour and salt together and set aside.

Mix the yeast, water and sugar together and set aside for about 10 minutes, or until it becomes frothy.

Mix the egg yolk, milk and 4 TBPS of the melted butter together.

Combine the yeast mixture with the egg yolk and milk mixture, then add to the flour and salt and start mixing everything together to make a soft dough. Slowly add about 1 -1 1/2cups of the additional flour. Form the dough into a ball and set it inside a large bowl that has been oiled. Cover and let rise for 2 hours. I like to melt my butter. I find it helps mix everything together better, although some people prefer to crumble their butter in.

Once the dough has completed its first rise, punch it down and cut into 12 equal portions.

Roll out each piece into a rope, then tie it into a knot.

Once all the knots are made, place them on a baking sheet cover and let them rise again for another 1 1/2-2 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350* F or 180* C.

Melt the rest of the butter and mix the garlic in with it. You can also add the egg white to this mixture. Brush the knots and place in the hot oven to bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and hollow when tapped on the bottom.

When the knots are done, enjoy them either on their own, or as a compliment to something else. You can also add poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or herbs as well, if you like. Mix and match them how you want.

If you want to make the knots even more buttery and garlicky, brush some more garlic butter on them as soon as they come out of the oven. Bread, butter and garlic – 3 of my favorite things. 🙂

Stay safe and stay well Everyone. ‘Til next time.