Greek Bread Sticks

Ingredients

Dough:

150 g chilled margarine (or butter), 

200 g plain flour

50 g whole-wheat flour

1 egg yolk

2 tablespoon(s) granulated sugar

2 pinches salt

2 tablespoon(s) brandy

250 g water

Coating:

60 g sunflower seeds

20 g flaxseed

30 g fennel seeds or any other seeds you like

100g finely grated hard cheese such as Grana Padana or Parmesan (optional)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C/Fan 160 C/Gas Mark 4

2. In a food processor, process and mix the two types of flour and the margarine or butter cut into cubes until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

3. Once mixed, add the egg yolk, sugar, salt and brandy then process until the mixture becomes a smooth and elastic dough.

TIP: Butter is delicious however margarine gives a better texture that is easier to work with.

4. We now divide the dough into 10 g balls. It is important to know the weight so that all our breadsticks are baked evenly.

5. Now it is time to shape our breadsticks on a surface with our hands by rolling them out into thin ‘sausages’ of equal length and thinkness so they bake evenly.

6. The next stage is to take a bowl and dissolve the sugar in 300 grams of water and in a flat pan next to it, empty the seeds and the cheese if using.

7. We dip the breadsticks first in water and then in the seeds so that they stick evenly. You can spread 6 - 7 breadsticks on the pan with after first dipping them in water and moving the pan back and forth slightly, to cover them faster than to make them one at a time.

8. Once covered with the seed mixture, place the breadsticks on a large baking sheet or alternatively in smaller pans of 25x35 cm, sprinkle with pepper and bake for 35-40 minutes.

9. Once they are ready, remove them from the oven and leave them to cool in the pan or on a rack if you have one.

10. Once cool, enjoy!