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Taralli: making traditional Italian pretzels with Nonna

Taralli - Traditional Italian Pretzels

Mili Takashima
Taralli is an Italian pretzel, made with simple ingredients, that offer a crispness to the outside and a flaky center. This recipe has been passed down for generations, and was made as a tradition by my Nonna. My mother is from Italy and now makes them with my children at home - typically for Epiphany and Easter.
Our recipe for Taralli is naturally vegan, and can be enjoyed from a plain dough, or with added flavors like fennel, hot pepper, or orange.
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Ingredients
  

plain pretzel ingredients

  • 5 cups all purpose flour - we are using a higher protein flour (40 ounces)
  • 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt
  • 2 cups oil of your choice: extra virgin olive oil, canola, vegetable, avocado (14-16 ounces)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups filtered water (10-12 ounces)

optional flavors to add to pretzel dough: fennel seeds, or orange zest, etc.

Instructions
 

Step 1: making the pretzel dough

  • In a bowl, add flour and salt.
  • Pour in oil and begin kneading the dough together by-hand.
  • As the dough comes together, incorporate one cup of water, and combine until the remainder of the 1/2 cup or water is added.
  • The dough should be soft and pliable.
  • Keep plain or add one flavor. For this recipe, you can separate the dough base into two or three different balls and add a flavor to each individual ball by kneading it into the dough.

Step 2: cooking the pretzels

  • Bring some water in a pot to boil.
  • While the water is coming to temperature, form the pretzels. Take small pieces of dough and roll them into rods that come together as you wish. We make very small Taralli that are "pinched" at the top as one loop, or you can have a longer rod to fold over a couple of times.
  • Once you're ready to cook and the water is boiling, place enough pretzels into the water so that they are not touching. Once they rise to the top, remove them from the water, and place on a surface to pat-dry.

Step 3: baking the pretzels

  • Your oven should be pre-heated to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
  • Place your oven's rack toward the middle or bottom-middle. Use parchment paper or a silpat baking mat for a cookie sheet and place boiled pretzels with enough spacing.
  • Bake for 40 minutes- until golden.

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