When we visit America we always have at least one visit to Olive Garden, an Italian restaurant. In fact last year we went in October and I believe we visited three times. Not only do they serve delicious pasta dishes, an everlasting salad bowl as well as the most delicious Olive Garden breadsticks, that just makes us want to go back again and again. They also often have offers available like free desserts if you use their App.
Cape Coral Florida
The Olive Garden breadsticks are such a hit with us that I wanted to recreate them when we were back home. They are a twist on the original ones we are fans of, as in the current Covid-19 environment we could only get wholemeal bread flour. However, it’s worked out to be a fantastic twist and they tasted amazing paired with the jerk chicken or vegetable pasta that we served. The recipe for that will follow, I just need to persuade my husband to make it again so I can photograph it.
Olive Garden Breadsticks With A Twist
Ingredients for the dough:
- 1 cup of warm water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
- 16 oz (about 3 1/2 cups) of bread flour, we used brown flour but you can use white to be more authentic to the original.
For the topping:
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- A chopped clove of garlic or a 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- You can also add freshly milled salt. Especially so if you can’t find salted butter.
Directions
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In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine the water, yeast, sugar, and butter.
- Chop a clove of garlic and add it into the remaining melted butter.
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Add in the salt and using the dough hook on the mixer to gradually add the flour on low speed.
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Increase speed to around medium and knead the dough for about 7 minutes. It should be smooth and elastic.
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I take out the dough from the stand mixer bowl, it should have left the mixing bowl completely clean. Give it a spray with oil and then place the dough back in there. Cover with a clean tea towel and rest in a warm place until doubled in size. We left it for about 1 hour 15 mins.
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Divide the dough into 12 portions. Making each of the portions into a breadstick shape.
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Place the dough breadsticks on a piece of parchment on a baking sheet. Cover again with either cling film or a clean tea towel and let rise until doubled in size. This we timed as a further 1 hour.
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