Crunchy, Fennel-Scented Bread Rings
To crack the fennel seeds, roll a heavy rolling pin over them or press them with the bottom of a small, heavy saucepan.
Recipe information
Yield
makes about 30 taralli
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Stir the yeast and warmed wine together in a large warm bowl until the yeast is dissolved. Let stand until foaming a little, about 10 minutes. Stir in the olive oil, salt, and fennel seed. Add as much of the flour as necessary to make a rough dough, then turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 to 7 minutes. You shouldn’t need to add more flour, as the olive oil should prevent the dough from sticking, but if you find the dough is sticking to your hands or the work surface, dust them lightly with flour.
Step 2
Set the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and turn it to coat lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm, draft-free area until the dough is puffy but not quite doubled in size, from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the dough and the temperature.
Step 3
Break off a piece of dough the size of a walnut and roll it between your palms and fingers to form a rope that is about as thin as a pencil. Set the dough rope aside and repeat with the remaining dough. Cut each rope into pieces about 4 inches long and shape them into rings about 2 inches in diameter. Press the ends together very firmly to keep them from separating during cooking.
Step 4
Set the rings on lightly oiled baking sheets, cover them with a clean kitchen towel, and let rise until almost doubled, about 1 hour. When the dough rings are almost ready, preheat the oven to 350° F, fill a wide braising pan or pot halfway with water, and bring to a boil.
Step 5
Plunge as many of the risen taralli as will float freely into the boiling water. The taralli will sink or float, depending on the dough. If they sink, wait for them to rise to the surface, flip them over, and cook for a minute. If the taralli float, cook them 1 minute on each side. In either case, remove them with a slotted spoon, drain on paper-towel-lined baking sheets, and cool slightly.
Step 6
Bake on lightly oiled baking sheets until deep golden brown and hard, 20 to 24 minutes.
Step 7
Store the taralli in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 weeks.
