Grissini With Prosciutto Recipes

GRISSINI

Steps:

• Stir together yeast, 1/4 cup warm water, and sugar in bowl of mixer and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, start over with new yeast.)
• Add semolina flour, "00" flour, and salt to yeast mixture along with oil and remaining 1 1/4 cups warm water and mix at low speed until a very soft dough forms. If necessary, mix in just enough "00" flour (up to 1/4 cup) to prevent dough from sticking to side of bowl. Increase speed to medium and beat, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes (dough will be soft). Scrape dough into center of bowl and dust with 2 tablespoons additional "00" flour. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F with racks in upper and lower thirds. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Punch down dough and turn out onto a floured surface (do not knead), then cut dough in half. Keeping 1 half covered with plastic wrap, cut other half into 16 equal pieces and roll each into a 15- to 16-inch rope (1/8 to 1/4 inch thick), lightly dusting your hands if dough is sticky. Arrange ropes 1/2 inch apart on 1 baking sheet, then make more ropes with remaining dough and arrange on second baking sheet.
• Bake, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until grissini are pale golden and crisp, 30 to 35 minutes total. Transfer to racks to cool.

PROSCIUTTO-WRAPPED GRISSINI

Steps:

• Wrap a slice of prosciutto around upper portion of each breadstick at an angle, slightly overlapping.

MESCLUN WITH PROSCIUTTO GRISSINI

Steps:

• Wrap each grissini in a piece of prosciutto, on a slight diagonal to cover as much of the breadstick as possible. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix the shallot, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper together. Gradually whisk in the oil in a slow stream. Place the mesclun greens and fennel in a large bowl and toss evenly with the dressing. Distribute among 4 serving plates and sprinkle with pine nuts.
• Take 2 prepared grissini and place them on top of each salad forming an "x". Serve immediately.
• Cook's Note: Grissini are pencil-thin breadsticks that can found at specialty and Italian food markets.

PROSCIUTTO-PARMESAN GRISSINI (PUFF PASTRY BREADSTICKS)

Steps:

• Thaw frozen puff pastry by bringing to room temperature, covered in plastic wrap, for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Sprinkle a large cutting surface with flour. Place puff pastry sheet on top of prepared surface and carefully unfold, making a 9-10 inch square. Brush with beaten egg. Top with cheese and press into the pastry dough. Cut the square into 16 strips Place strips 1/2 inch apart and bake for 10 minutes, grissini should be lightly golden. Cool for 15 minutes.
• Cut each slice of prosciutto into four thin strips and wrap one diagonally around each breadstick. Serve immediately.
• FREEZING: Grissini can be frozen after the 15-minute cooling period. When ready to serve bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes if frozen and 2-3 minutes if thawed.

GRISSINI

Steps:

• Dust 1/2 pound pizza dough with flour; flatten into a rectangle. Roll out with a pasta machine on the widest setting into a 5-by-18-inch sheet, 1/8 inch thick. Halve the sheet crosswise, dust with more flour and cut each half into fettuccine-size strips with the pasta machine. Arrange the strips 1/2 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Cover with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until puffed, 60 to 90 minutes. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Bake at 350 degrees F, switching the pans halfway through, until crisp, about 20 minutes.

GRISSINI WITH PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Wrap 1 piece of prosciutto around each breadstick and arrange on a serving platter.