We have a long Fourth of July weekend coming up, and it looks like good barbecue weather here in the Northeast.  There will be  a lot of grilling and cold salads, and of course chips and dips.  At our house there will also be plenty of taralles.  They are the perfect snack food.  If you aren’t familiar with taralles, it is a crunchy, ring shaped Italian snack food, similar to a breadstick or pretzel…sort of.   Traditionally they are flavored with black pepper or fennel seeds.   We always have several bags in the pantry, of all different types and sizes.  My husband actually starts to get nervous if we don’t have at least two bags in the pantry.    I think this is because they were not as readily available years ago.   Now you can go into most supermarkets or Italian delis and find a great assortment.  

Also, now I can ( and do) make them myself.  I can’t get over how easy it is to make them, following this very simple recipe.  I have even made them using gluten-free, self-rising flour.  I do have to warn you though,  that they are rather addicting, and you will find yourself popping one after another into your mouth.  

This Fourth of July weekend at our house, you will find a basket of these homemade taralles right next to the chips.   Give it a try.   “ I bet you can’t eat one.”

Recipe:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

3 Cups Self-Rising Flour

2 Teaspoons Black pepper

2 Teaspoons Fennel Seed

Mix the above in a large bowl

Then Add

3/4 Cup of oil ( any kind…I used olive oil)

1 Cup Warm tap water

Mix it all together

Kneed it for a bit, just until nicely combined.

Make small rings

Bake on an uncreased cookie sheer until golden, about 20 minutes.