Ingredients
Method
Prepare the Herb Butter:
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
- Add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, and chopped basil.
- Simmer the butter and herbs together until the butter is fully melted and the garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
Prepare the Dough:
- In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with sugar on high speed until the mixture becomes fluffy.
- Add the softened butter and mix until creamy.
- Add the oil, warm milk, and salt. Mix well and then sprinkle the dry yeast over the mixture. Cover with a cloth and let it sit for 15 minutes to activate the yeast.
Add the Flour and Knead the Dough:
- After 15 minutes, begin adding the flour, one cup at a time. The dough should become thick and sticky.
- Use a dough hook to knead the dough until it forms a sticky ball. Knead by hand on a floured surface for about 1 minute. If the dough is too cold, microwave it for a few seconds to warm it up.
Let the Dough Rise:
- Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough inside. Cover with a cloth and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
Shape the Knots:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a large rectangle.
- Brush the dough with the prepared herb butter and scatter the chopped olives on top.
- Fold the dough from the sides towards the center so that the dough slightly overlaps in the middle. Cut the dough into strips, about 5 cm wide.
- Take each strip, twist it into a knot, and place it on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Tuck the ends of each knot underneath to secure it.
- Allow the knots to rise for another 30 minutes.
Bake and Finish:
- Bake the knots in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Immediately after removing the knots from the oven, brush each knot with the hot herb butter.
- Optionally, sprinkle with a little extra salt for added flavor and to help the butter adhere to the knots.
- Allow the garlic knots to cool slightly before serving. They should be soft, airy, and bursting with the rich flavors of garlic and herbs.
