**Black Pepper Taralli: A Taste of Italy's Southern Delicacy**
In the heart of Italy's sun-kissed southern region of Puglia, there lies a culinary gem that has captivated taste buds for generations: black pepper taralli. These twisted, ring-shaped crackers, also known as taralli al pepe nero, are a delightful combination of simplicity and flavor. Made with just a few carefully chosen ingredients, these crispy treats are the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine, a savory cheese platter, or as a standalone snack. In this article, we'll delve into the secrets of crafting authentic black pepper taralli, guiding you through three delectable variations that showcase the versatility of this classic recipe. From the traditional method using lard to a vegan-friendly version and a spicy rendition infused with fiery Calabrian chili peppers, these recipes offer a range of options to tantalize your palate. So, let's embark on a culinary journey and discover the magic of black pepper taralli, the quintessential taste of southern Italy.
TARALLI PUGLIESI - ITALIAN BLACK PEPPER COOKIES
Taralli are wonderful baked wheat flour rings that are a classic snack in Italy. Taralli are savory bites that are crispy on the outside and have flaky inside. The taste is a wonderful combination of floral olive oil and spicy black pepper with every nibble.
Provided by Angela
Categories Appetizer Side Dish Snack
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. Create a well in the middle to add the wet ingredients.
- Slowly pour the water and oil into the well of the flour. Blend together and gradually incorporate into the flour using your hands. The dough will be dense.
- Dust a working surface or cutting board with flour, To the stiff dough, knead for about 3 minutes to develop the gluten.
- Preheat oven to 400º.
- Pull off small pieces of dough about 1 Tablespoon in size. Next, roll into ropes about 6 inches long and very narrow. Form a ring and then pinch the edges together.
- Place them on a prepared baking sheet, nonstick or with cooking spray. Leave space between each tarallo, they do not expand very much but will a little bit.You can get a dozen on each baking sheet. You can bake one at a time or both at once - just be sure to rotate the pans halfway through and keep them as close to the center of the oven as you can.
- Brush with oil and bake 20 minutes in the middle of your oven. The bottoms will be lightly browned.
- Remove carefully from the baking sheet and let cool on a baking rack.
- Enjoy immediately as a snack, appetizer, or small bite. Serve with wine or other small bites like cheese, fruit, or salumi. Great to serve on a charcuterie board or in a breadbasket.
BLACK PEPPER TARALLI
Black Pepper Taralli - Taralli al Pepe Nero... when you need a spicy snack!
Provided by cooking with nonna
Yield 8 Dozen(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer put all the liquids, the yeast and the salt. Mix well. Add the flourand the black pepper and mix well until all the ingredients are well amalgamated. Cut a chunk of dough and roll it into an 4 inch stick a little less than 1/2" tick. If desired, when you roll the dough you can add more black pepper. Unite and press both ends to form a little round Tarallo. Let all the Taralli rest for about 15 Mins. covered with a cloth. Take a few taralli at the time and boil them in water. When you place the taralli in the boiling water they will sink to the bottom of the pan and may tend to stick to the bottom. With a wooden spoon, move them gently to remove them from the bottom. When they come up to the surface, remove them from the water and put them on a white cloth to dry. After you have boiled all your taralli, place all the taralli on a flat baking sheet and bake them for about 35 mins. at 380F. Keep an eye on them as all ovens have their own personality. Midway thru the baking cycle, turn the taralli to make sure that they cooke evenly on both sides.
BLACK PEPPER TARALLI
Packaged taralli, available at Italian and gourmet markets, are usually as dry and bland as wood chips. That's why making your own is so satisfying. These melting little rounds are rich with olive oil and fiery with black pepper - more black pepper than seems possible, or reasonable. If your palate really can't handle heat, use half the amount in the recipe. But if you like chiles, it's fun to be reminded that black peppercorns can also give that delightful burn. The taralli will seem chewy when they come out of the oven, but as they cool and dry out, they will become crumbly, like shortbread. Serve with drinks, preferably something light with a little sweetness, like a rosé, a Champagne cocktail or an Italian Spritz.
Provided by Julia Moskin
Categories snack, finger foods, appetizer
Time 2h
Yield 4 to 5 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, whisk together dry ingredients. Add oil and half the wine. Use the paddle attachment to mix on medium-low speed for 12 minutes, adding remaining wine occasionally. Dough will be springy and moist but not sticky. If it is sticky, refrigerate 30 minutes and mix again. Add more flour a little bit at a time if needed.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees, or 350 degrees with convection.
- Prepare 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick liners. Pull off a piece of dough (about 1/4 ounce or 8 grams) and roll on a work surface into a 5-inch rope tapered at both ends. Shape into a coil (or a ring, with the ends crossed over) and gently pinch to seal. Transfer to prepared pan. Repeat with remaining dough, working in batches if necessary. (Can be made up to this point and frozen. Freeze on sheet pans, then transfer to freezer bags for storage. Do not thaw before baking.)
- Bake 15 to 20 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking, until golden brown. (Add 3 to 5 minutes if baking from frozen.) Cool before serving. Will keep up to a week in a sealed container.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 67, UnsaturatedFat 3 grams, Carbohydrate 7 grams, Fat 3 grams, Fiber 0 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 38 milligrams, Sugar 0 grams
NONI'S TARALLI
Classic Italian biscuit recipe passed down from my great grandmother (nona) to my grandmother (noni) to my dad and now to me. These are savory taralli, you can also add cracked black pepper to taste if desired.
Provided by Dan Ambrosini
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes
Time 5h5m
Yield 200
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl.
- Combine flour, wine, oil, fennel seeds, and salt in a large stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. Knead on low speed. Add yeast mixture slowly. Continue to mix until a smooth ball is formed and dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Remove dough from the bowl; knead into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat.
- Cut the dough into 2-inch cross sections; roll into 1/2-inch-diameter "tubes." Cut tubes lengthwise into 1/4-inch cross sections. Roll each from the center out; fold ends over one another.
- Boil taralli in the hot water in groups of 10 until they rise to the top, about 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon. Continue with remaining taralli. Let dry for 4 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place dried taralli onto baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven, flipping as needed, until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 25.8 calories, Carbohydrate 3.4 g, Fat 1 g, Fiber 0.1 g, Protein 0.5 g, SaturatedFat 0.1 g, Sodium 52.6 mg
CACIO E PEPE TARALLI (SAVORY ITALIAN PRETZELS)
Often served with (and dipped in!) white wine, taralli are a fun and versatile Italian snack you can flavor all sorts of ways. This pepper and cheese variety starts with a simple unleavened dough starring white wine and olive oil. Rolled into ropes, then into rings, they're boiled and sprinkled with cheese before baking. Once baked, the cheese forms a crispy wafer in the middle of the ring!
Provided by Chef John
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Snacks Cracker Recipes
Time 2h5m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Combine flour, pepper, and salt in a mixing bowl, and stir with a spoon to combine. Pour in wine and olive oil. Mix until dough starts to come together. Knead by hand until dough is smooth and slightly elastic, about 3 minutes. Wrap dough in plastic and let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Unwrap dough and cut into 4 pieces. Roll each piece out with your palms into ropes about 10 to 12 inches long. Cut each rope into 3 pieces; roll each piece to a length of 5 or 6 inches. Twist the ends a few times and press them together to form a ring, twisting as needed to fully seal the ends.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat (such as SILPAT®).
- Bring a pan of water (at least 3 inches) to a boil. Drop in 4 rings of dough at a time. Boil until rings float to the top, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon onto a towel-lined plate. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
- Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over each ring; flip and grate more cheese on the other side. Flip back to the first side and apply one last grating of cheese, or until rings are thoroughly coated.
- Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden and crunchy, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet onto a wire rack and let cool completely before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 77.3 calories, Carbohydrate 8.4 g, Cholesterol 2.9 mg, Fat 3.3 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 2.4 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 211.6 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
AUTHENTIC TARALLI
Taralli are crunchy little knots of snacking goodness. A specialty from the Puglia region, they are an unleavened crispy cross between a bagel, pretzel, and breadstick. These no-yeast, ring-shaped bread substitutes are perfect for your cheese boards, soups, or salads.
Provided by Buckwheat Queen
Categories Appetizers and Snacks Snacks Cracker Recipes
Time 2h35m
Yield 60
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Combine flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, oil, and wine in a stand mixer. Mix ingredients using the paddle attachment until a ball forms. Switch to the dough hook and knead dough for 10 minutes.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat and add the remaining salt. Spread a large, clean cloth out on a counter or table.
- Pinch off a walnut-sized piece of dough once kneading has finished. Roll dough piece into a snake about 2 1/2 inches long. Form a tear drop shape, lightly pressing the two ends together to seal them into a ring. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Turn down the boiling water to a low boil. Drop taralli into the water a few at a time. Do not stir; they will sink at first, then begin to float. Remove floating taralli with a slotted spoon. Place them on the clean cloth and continue until all the taralli have boiled and are drained on the cloth. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Bake in the preheated oven until taralli are golden and firm on the outside, but still soft on the inside, about 40 minutes. Cool completely and rest for at least 1 hour before serving. Wrap with a clean cloth or place in a paper bag; store at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 56.8 calories, Carbohydrate 6.4 g, Fat 2.8 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 0.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 15 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
STUFFED CALAMARI
Long a star on Camille Orrichio Loccisano's traditional Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes table, these stuffed squid were also a hit at her restaurant, the appropriately named Casa Calamari. After a slow simmer in briny tomato sauce, diced shrimp and peppery crumbs plump up into a rich stuffing that fills tender calamari bodies; they're like seafood dumplings in reverse.
Provided by Francis Lam
Categories main course
Time 1h30m
Yield Serves 3-4
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- In a food processor, pulse the taralli until it forms coarse crumbs. Measure 1 1/4 cups of the crumbs. Pulse the squid tentacles in the food processor to chop them fine, and pat them very dry with paper towels.
- In a large skillet, heat 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. When shimmering, add the squid tentacles, and spread them out. Sear until golden brown, about 5 minutes, then add the butter, garlic and red-pepper flakes to taste. Cook, stirring, until the garlic just starts to color, about 1 minute.
- Add the shrimp, season with salt and cook until just pink, about 2 minutes. Add the wine, and simmer for 1 minute. Turn off the heat, and stir in the taralli crumbs and lemon zest. The crumbs should look like wet, clumpy sand. If the mixture is too dry, sprinkle in a little more wine, and allow the filling to cool until just warm.
- Stuff each squid body with the filling, leaving the bottom and top inches unfilled (the stuffing will expand as it cooks). Secure the tops with toothpicks, and season all over with salt.
- Make the sauce: In a wide, deep pan, warm 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. Add red-pepper flakes to taste and the garlic, and cook until fragrant and just beginning to color. Stir in the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper.
- Bring the tomatoes to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the sauce for 15 minutes. Add the calamari and any extra stuffing, and bring back to a very gentle simmer.
- Cover the pan, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally and adjusting the heat to make sure the sauce maintains a lazy bubble. Adjust with salt to taste. Garnish with the parsley. Serve with bread or pasta.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients, especially the black pepper. Freshly ground black pepper will provide the best flavor.
- If you don't have white wine, you can substitute water or chicken broth.
- Be careful not to overcook the taralli. They should be golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside, but still soft and chewy on the inside.
- Taralli can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Taralli can be served as an appetizer, snack, or side dish.
Conclusion:
Black pepper taralli are a delicious and easy-to-make Italian snack. They are perfect for parties, potlucks, or simply enjoying at home. With their simple ingredients and bold flavor, black pepper taralli are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them.
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