The breadsticks are the most popular item at Olive Garden, as everyone knows. Because they are tender, buttery, and have the perfect amount of garlicky flavour, they are the type of enticing appetiser that makes it almost hard to avoid eating a lot of them. It has been quite some time since I last indulged in Olive Garden’s breadsticks, but now that I am aware of how simple it is to prepare them at home, I will most certainly increase the frequency with which I consume them.
Believe me when I say that after you make a batch of these, you will wonder why you haven’t been cooking these with your fettuccine Alfredo all along.
Pre Recipe
To complete this recipe, you do not need any specialised equipment. If you do not own a stand mixer, you should not worry about it. Following the activation of the yeast, mix all of the ingredients in a bowl using a wooden spoon or your fingers until a shaggy dough forms. After the dough has been formed, turn it out onto a surface that has been gently dusted with flour.
Knead it for eight to ten minutes, or until it is totally smooth and elastic. To be sure, it may seem like a lot, but if you think of it as your exercise for the day, you will be rewarded with the ultimate reward: warm and fluffy breadsticks!
You should remove them from the oven before they begin to brown too much if you really want them to be similar to those served at Olive Garden. If you brown them, they will become much more tasty, but you should bear in mind that they will not be an identical imitation.
If you are in the mood to spice things up, then you can add some fresh parsley or Italian seasoning to the garlic butter for a herby upgrade, or you can sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top as soon as they come out of the oven for a cheesy kick. These breadsticks are a blank canvas, so let your imagination run wild.
Should you find yourself with any leftovers, you may store the breadsticks in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days, or you can place them in the refrigerator for up to four days. To bring them back to life, reheat them for a few minutes in an oven set to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Are you familiar with this recipe? In the comments section below, please let us know how you feel about it!
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 (1/4-oz.) packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 tsp.)
- 3 cups (360 g.) all-purpose flour
- 4 Tbsp. plant-based or regular unsalted butter, melted, cooled
- 1 Tbsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic Butter & Assembly
- 4 Tbsp. plant-based or regular unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- Store-bought or homemade marinara sauce, for dipping
Directions
Dough
Step 1:
Combine one cup of lukewarm water (105 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit) and one cup of sugar in the big bowl of a stand mixer that is equipped with the dough hook. Put some yeast on top of it. Take around ten minutes to allow the mixture to froth.
Step 2:
Flour, butter, and salt should be added. For one to two minutes, beat the ingredients on low speed until a dough begins to form. Put the speed up to medium and keep beating until a smooth ball is formed, which should take between five and six minutes.
Step 3:
Take off the dough hook, sprinkle oil over the dough, and shape it into a ball before placing it in the bowl (the dough will be little sticky). Wrap the bowl with plastic wrap and serve. Allow dough to rise at room temperature for one to one and a half hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Step 4:
Take the dough from the bowl, place it on top of a work surface, and cut it into twelve equal pieces. Each piece should be rolled into a log that is about 8 inches long. Cover and let to rise for twenty minutes after transferring to two baking pans lined with parchment paper.
Garlic Butter and Assembly
Step 1:
Set the oven to 400 degrees and put racks in the top and bottom thirds. The first step is to mix butter, garlic powder, and salt in a small basin. Brush each log gently with garlic butter to get it ready.
Step 2:
The breadsticks should bake for about 12 minutes. Halfway through, the sheets should be turned over so that they bake evenly. If you want them to look more like the breadsticks at Olive Garden, you might bake them for about 20 minutes at a higher temperature. You should use the leftover garlic butter right away. You should provide marinara on the side for dipping.
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