Braided Herbed Breadsticks | #BreadBakers

It has been raining incessantly. The rain is falling heavily.  The sound is metallic when it falls on the car shed, it whispers when it passes through the trees. It sounds like strains of some musical instrument when it falls on our pond. The rise and fall of the wind speed gives rhythm to the sonorous music. The leaves seem to be studded with jewels with water droplets sitting on them.

We spot a Scaly Breasted Munia enjoying the rain.

Later in the day, it clears up. Sun shines through the clouds and butterflies begin to emerge from the bushes.

There is a lot of hullabaloo in the kitchen. We are making breadsticks. The dough is being rolled to be braided. Kids are trying their hand at braiding. Younger one makes fat braids while the elder one braids tightly. Soon the baking tray goes inside the oven and the yeasty aroma fills up the nooks and crannies of our home.

In the evening it begins to rain again and we enjoy our crisp breadsticks with thick tomato soup.

Braided Herbed Breadsticks

Ingredients

• ¾  cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon Italian spice mix
• 1 tablespoon mixed dry herbs
• ¼ teaspoon powdered black pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or any neutral oil

Instructions

1. Mix together first three ingredients. Cover and keep for 10 minutes. The mixture will turn frothy.
2. Whisk together remaining ingredients.
3. Add to the yeast mixture and stir till well combined.
4. Empty dough on a floured counter and knead for 5-6 minutes till it becomes soft, supple and elastic.
5. Transfer dough to a greased bowl. Turn around once to coat it with oil evenly.  Cover and keep for an hour or until doubled.
6. Punch the dough and divide into two. Roll the first piece into a circle of about 12 inches in diameter.
7. Cut 24 strips. Roll three strips one by one, at a time. Pinch the ends together and make a tight braid.
8. Tuck in the edges on both the sides.
9. Prepare all the bread sticks this way and place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
10. Repeat with the other piece of dough
11. Cover and keep for 20 to 25 minutes or until doubled. Preheat oven at 180 degrees C.
12. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
13. Cool on the rack.

Linking to Bread Bakers-

This month's Bread Baker's theme is Braided Breads and is hosted by Gayathri Kumar of Gayathri's Cook Spot   

Gayathri's blog has a lovely collection of eggless bakes. Thank You Gayathri for choosing the 

wonderful theme

Here is the collection of all the beautiful braided breads from our team.

  

•  Almond Braided Brioche by Palatable Pastime
•  Artisan Herb Bread Braid by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
•  Basic Challah Bread by Cook's Hideout  
•  Braided Bread with Candied Papaya Chunks by Sara's Tasty Buds  
•  Braided Garlic Bread by Sizzling Tastebuds  
•  Braided Herbed Breadsticks by Ambrosia  
•  Braided Rum & Raisin Buns by All That's Left Are The Crumbs
•  Challah Bread by Mayuri's Jikoni
•  Cherry Cheese Braid by A Day in the Life on the Farm
•  Chicken Cheese Braided Bread by Sneha’s Recipe
•  Nutella Braided Bread by Veena’s Vegnation  
•  Olive Oil Challah by A Shaggy Dough Story  
• Orange Saffron Braided Brioche by Food Lust People Love
•  Scali Bread by Karen's Kitchen Stories  
•  Spice and Herb French Braid by The Schizo Chef
•  Sweet Braid Stuffed with Cream Cheese by Basic N Delicious  
•  Two-Seed Potato Challah by What Smells So Good?
•  Whole Wheat Challah Bread by Spill the Spices  
•  Whole Wheat Pizza Braid by Herbivore Cucina  
•  Whole Wheat Zopf Bread by I camp in my Kitchen  
•  Winston Knot Bread by Gayathri's Cook Spot  
•  Zucchini Yeast Bread by Baking Sense  

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to [email protected].