Khapli Wheat

Garlic Breadsticks

: A Guide To Bake Them At Home

So why should you use Khapli wheat flour instead?

The answer is flavour! Khapli wheat is one of the oldest wheat cultivars and is valued for its rich nutty taste. Refined flour does not have a distinct flavour, but Khapli does. The flour imparts subtle earthy notes, which complement garlic, roasted herbs, butter and cheese very well.

Moreover, Khapli wheat flour absorbs liquid differently from refined flour. It creates a slightly softer dough and requires a bit more effort during kneading. People usually tend to add flour to stop the dough from sticking. But overcoming this temptation is likely to give you wonderfully soft breadsticks after baking.

Yet another advantage of Khapli flour is the fact that it forms a nice golden crust, which does not become hard, even when it is brushed with butter immediately after baking.

When you are trying to make garlic breadsticks for the first time, you can either use 100 per cent Khapli wheat flour or mix it with some bread flour. Both options provide amazing results.

Now, you might wonder if it is possible to make soft breadsticks with whole grain flour. Contrary to the common myth, the softness of the breadsticks is mostly about hydration, kneading and proofing rather than the type of flour.

What’s The Secret Behind Soft & Tasty Garlic Breadsticks At Home?

Ask any chef or baker what makes good bread different from average bread, and he or she would not tell you any secret ingredients. Technique is the key to good breadsticks.

First of all, soft breadsticks are made from a well-hydrated dough. Water activates yeast, which creates carbon dioxide and forms lots of bubbles in the dough. The bubbles form the structure of the breadsticks.

Secondly, the dough must be kneaded properly. During kneading, gluten starts forming, creating elasticity and structure of the dough. The properly kneaded dough should be smooth, slightly tacky and spring back a little bit when pressed. Otherwise, you end up with dense breadsticks or adding too much flour during kneading.

Finally, you need to give the dough enough time to double in volume. The most common mistake when making bread at home is rushing this process. If you want light, airy breadsticks, you need to give the dough enough time to proof properly.

And there goes the final ingredient - garlic butter. Fresh garlic, melted butter, parsley, oregano and grated Parmesan create a classic coating for breadsticks. Immediately after baking, you should brush breadsticks with garlic butter, because in such a way, the butter will go deep into the crust, providing breadsticks with a delicious and rich flavour of restaurant breadsticks.

Last but not least is cheese! Obviously, mozzarella is the best choice because of its excellent melting quality. But you can combine mozzarella with cheddar or Parmesan to achieve a better balance of flavours. Mozzarella gives its unique melting and stretching quality, while other kinds of cheese impart depth of flavours. Once these basics are understood, it becomes easy to make garlic breadsticks.

How To Make Khapli Wheat Garlic Breadsticks At Home

Ingredients Required

For the Dough

3 cups Khapli wheat flour

2 ¼ tsp instant yeast

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp olive oil

1 cup lukewarm water (adjust as needed)

For the Garlic Butter

3 tbsp melted butter

5-6 garlic cloves, finely minced

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried parsley

2 tbsp grated Parmesan (optional)

For the Topping

1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese

Chilli flakes (optional)

Mixed herbs

Method

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

In a mixing bowl, combine lukewarm water, sugar and yeast. Do not stir anything for 8-10 minutes, until the mixture becomes frothy. This proves that the yeast has become active and is ready to make the dough rise.

Step 2: Make the Dough

Combine Khapli wheat flour, salt and olive oil with the activated yeast. Stir until the dough starts forming and then knead it for 8-10 minutes. The dough should become elastic and slightly tacky, but should not be sticky.

Step 3: First Proof

Leave the dough to rise in a lightly greased bowl covered with a damp cloth for 60-90 minutes, or until the dough doubles in volume.

Step 4: Shape the Breadsticks

After rising, gently knead the dough and shape it into a rectangular sheet, 0.5 inches thick. Put it on a baking sheet. Cover one half of the dough with mozzarella cheese and fold the other half over it. Seal the edges and cut the dough into strips with a pizza cutter or a sharp knife.

Step 5: Second Proof

For the second proof, cover the strips with a cloth and let them proof for 20-25 minutes.

Step 6: Bake Until Golden Brown

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius while the dough rises. Brush the surface of the dough with melted butter or olive oil and bake for 15-18 minutes, until the breadsticks become puffed and golden around the edges. The baking time will vary from oven to oven. So, check them after 15 minutes. The tops should be lightly browned, and the bottoms should be firm but not hard.

Step 7: Brush Garlic Butter

As soon as the breadsticks are done, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, oregano, parsley and Parmesan in a bowl. Generously brush each breadstick with garlic butter to ensure that the garlic will settle in the cracks formed in the baking process. Wait for 2-3 minutes before serving. It allows the butter to soak in the crust instead of remaining on its surface.

Stuffing Your Homemade Garlic Breadsticks With Anything But Cheeses

The great thing about homemade garlic breadsticks is the opportunity to try other fillings instead of the usual cheese one. After you have learned how to make the dough, it will be a perfect canvas to experiment with other fillings.

Vegetarian Fillings

1.      Cheese (classic): This one is the simplest filling for garlic breadsticks.

2.      Paneer Tikka: Leftover paneer tikka is the perfect choice to stuff into your garlic breadsticks. Just mix it with some mozzarella cheese.

3.      Spinach & Cream Cheese: Sautéed spinach with cream cheese. Make sure that the moisture has evaporated completely.

4.      Mushroom & Garlic: Fry finely chopped mushrooms with garlic and thyme, and then stuff the garlic breadstick with this filling.

5.      Corn & Jalapeño: Sweet corn perfectly balances the gentle heat of pickled jalapeños, so this variation is quite popular among kids and spicy-lovers.

Non-Vegetarian Fillings

1.      Garlic Butter Chicken: Combine shredded chicken, seasoned with some garlic butter and herbs. 

2.      Peri Peri Chicken: Peri peri marinated chicken filled inside the garlic breadstick, and it's mouthwatering. Perfect for those who want some spiciness.

3.      Chicken Pepperoni: Chicken pepperoni and mozzarella clubbed together and filled inside the breadstick, and baked to perfection.

4.      Chicken Keema: Use cooled down keema as the filling to make your breadsticks hearty.

Whatever filling you use, avoid overfilling your breadsticks. The slight filling is easier to seal and does not come out of the dough while baking.

Seasoning Blends That Will Elevate Your Garlic Breadsticks

Garlic butter is not the only flavour that matters. There are several seasonings that can help transform your breadsticks' taste and flavour. Take a look at some of these seasonings:

• Italian Style- It’s prepared with garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, parmesan and dried parsley. This seasoning blend is something that can remind you of the seasoning used by many pizza chains.

• Spicy Chilli Garlic- For this seasoning, one would need chilli flakes, smoked paprika, garlic powder and black pepper. It’s a great option for those who enjoy some spiciness in their breadsticks.

• Indian Herb Seasoning-It’s often prepared using crushed kasuri methi, garlic powder, chaat masala, and fresh coriander. This fusion-style seasoning blend goes well with paneer stuffing.

• Parmesan Herby Butter- Just combine together parmesan cheese with melted butter and spread it over the garlic breadsticks, and it’s good to go.

Cooking Garlic Breadsticks On The Stove Top

Many home cooks wonder if it is possible to cook garlic breadsticks without a conventional oven. Yes, it is.

Oven

An oven is the simplest and most effective way. Baking at 200 degrees C creates even browning while letting the dough rise.

OTG

You can also use OTG. Just bake using both heating rods to create even browning from the top and bottom sides.

Air Fryer

You can use an air fryer to cook smaller batches of garlic breadsticks at 180 degrees C for 10-12 minutes. Brush them with garlic butter as soon as you take them out of the appliance.

Stove Top

Those who do not have an oven should put some salt in a heavy-bottomed kadhai and heat it for 10 minutes. Then place a stand inside the kadhai, put a baking sheet with breadsticks above it and cover it with a lid. Cook over low flame until the breadsticks are done.

Common mistakes people make while making garlic breadsticks

Although garlic breadsticks are easy to make, there are a few things to watch out for…

1. One of the most common mistakes is to add too much flour while kneading. The soft dough gives soft breadsticks.

2. Too hot water kills the yeast. Warm water should be warm enough to feel comfortable.

3. Skipping the second proof causes dense breadsticks lacking in light texture, which is characteristic of bakery breadsticks.

4. Another common mistake is to brush garlic butter on the breadsticks before baking them. Many people think that it will help to get the breadsticks with a good smell of garlic. But the problem is that garlic burns in the oven and gets bitter. Garlic should be applied after baking.

5. Overcooking is one of the main reasons for dense breadsticks. Take garlic breadsticks out of the oven when the tops become golden brown.

Storage and reheating of garlic breadsticks

Freshly baked breadsticks are the best. But it is also possible to store them for future use. After you have allowed your breadsticks to cool down completely, pack them in an airtight box. The breadsticks can stay fresh at room temperature for a day and can be stored in a fridge for 3 days.

For reheating, do not use a microwave. It will dry the bread. Instead, heat the breadsticks in an oven at 180 degrees C for 5-7 minutes or in an air fryer for 2-3 minutes. Brush them with garlic butter before reheating to soften them.

You can also freeze the shaped and unbaked garlic breadsticks. Thaw and bake as usual.

Conclusion

There is something incredibly rewarding in making your favourite fast food at home. It is not about saving money and calories but about the ability to control the dough, which cheese will be used inside the breadsticks, what the stuffing will be and how crispy the edges of the breadsticks should be.

By using Khapli wheat flour, you add to this experience even more. It brings a little nuttiness to these breadsticks, showing that wholesome ingredients are not less tasty than others. Once you have tried to make garlic breadsticks from scratch, you are unlikely to buy them ever again.