Garlic & Rosemary Breadsticks and Focaccia

After watching the Great British Bake Off masterclass last night with Paul Hollywood making olive breadsticks I knew that I had to make them, and make them soon.

With no time like the present I got up early to make dough. I wasn't going to let the small issue of having no olives stop me and instead chose to add rosemary and garlic, along with a few chilli flakes.

The dough is quite a wet one and it was really helpful watching it on the tv before making them as I was able to see the consistency of the dough and watch the technique of forming the breadsticks. I made just over a third of the quantity that Mr H made (he used 1kg of flour), which still made quite a few breadsticks, as well as a small Focaccia.

Garlic & Rosemary Breadsticks

350g strong white bread flour

7g salt

7g yeast

glug of olive oil (approx 50ml)

280ml cool water (approx)

handful of fresh rosemary

3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

Pinch of chilli flakes

Flour & semolina for dusting

• Mix the flour, salt, yeast, oil and half of the water together in a food mixer
• Add the rest of the water with the motor running until you get a thick cake like batter, adding more water if necessary
• Add the rosemary, garlic & chilli flakes
• Mix for 10 mins on high speed
• Put dough into a large rectangular plastic food box (lidded)
• Prove for approx 1 hour, until doubled in size
• Dust the work surface with semolina & flour 
• Prepare a baking sheet by dusting with flour & semolina
• Tip the dough out and sprinkle with more flour & semolina
• Cut the dough gently into strips and as you lay onto the prepared baking sheet stretch them gently
• Bake in a 220 C oven for approx 20 minutes, until browned & crispy

You can reserve some of the dough to make focaccia - I sprinkled with a little sea salt before baking - it makes such a soft bread