Tammy's Recipes

A crusty Italian dinner roll, formed into a knot and brushed with garlic butter

Dough Ingredients:

1 cup warm (110 to 115 degrees) water
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon dry yeast

Garlic Butter Ingredients:

2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons butter
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Combine first four dough ingredients in a large bowl. Add flour and dry yeast all at once and stir. Knead dough for 8-10 minutes, adding more flour if necessary to make a smooth, elastic dough. Cover and set dough in a warm place to rise for about 30 minutes.*

2. While dough is rising, heat oil and butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. When butter is melted, add garlic and salt. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Grease 2 large baking sheets.

3. Punch down dough and roll out on a floured surface into a 12 x 12-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut dough into 12 strips, each being one inch wide. Cut strips in half, ending with a total of 24, 5 x 1-inch strips.

4. Tie each strip into a knot. Transfer 12 knots onto each greased baking sheet. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 20-30 minutes, until nearly doubled in size.

5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Uncover knots and brush lightly with some of the garlic butter, trying to get the bits of minced garlic (not just butter) on the rolls. Bake for 15-20 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through baking.

6. When rolls are done, immediately transfer to a large bowl. Pour remaining garlic butter over rolls and toss to coat.

*I usually turn my oven on "warm" for 2-3 minutes; then I turn off the oven and set my bowl of dough inside to rise, closing oven door.

I created this recipe based on my basic Italian bread dough and using a "knot" idea from a magazine. It's not difficult to make, but looks extra special! :)

These Italian garlic knots are a hearty dinner roll, and fun to make! I love garlic, so I absolutely loved this variation on traditional garlic bread. If you like strong garlic bread, you will love these rolls! My rating: 10/10