pat's Recipe

Garlic Knots ( SF winner)

Category: BREADS

2 tablespoons minced garlic

10 garlic cloves, minced

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon plus 3/4 cup water, heated to 110 degrees

1 1/8 teaspoon rapid-rise or instant yeast

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200, turn it off. Grease large bowl.

Make garlic butter: Cook garlic, 1 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon water in small nonstick skillet over low heat, stirring occasionally, until garlic is straw-colored, 8 to 10 minutes. Add remaining butter, stirring until melted. Let stand 10 minutes off heat. Strain garlic butter through fine mesh strainer into small bowl; reserve garlic solids.

Make dough: Whisk remaining water, 1 tablespoon garlic butter, reserved garlic solids and yeast in liquid measuring cup until yeast dissolves.

In bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook, mix flour and salt until combined. With mixer on low, add water mixture in steady stream and mix until dough comes together, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium and knead until dough is smooth and comes away from the sides of the bowl, about 6 minutes.

Turn dough onto clean work surface and knead briefly to form smooth cohesive ball. Transfer dough to prepared bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and place in turned-off oven until dough has doubled in size, 40 to 50 minutes.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Punch down dough on floured surface. Roll dough into 12-by 6-inch rectangle and cut into twelve 6-inch strips. With flat hands, roll each strip into a 12-inch rope. Tie ropes into knots, tucking tails. Place on prepared baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and return to turned-off oven until doubled in size, about 20 minutes.

Remove knots from oven and discard plastic. Heat oven to 500 degrees. Return knots to oven and bake until set, about 5 minutes. Remove knots from oven and brush with 2 tablespoons garlic butter. Rotate baking sheet, return to oven and bake until golden, about 5 minutes. Brush knots with remaining garlic butter and cool 5 minutes. Transfer to wire rack. Serve warm.

Makes 12.