Authentic Taralli Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place the flour on a worktable. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the olive oil, wine and water. Combine the ingredients and knead until the mixture becomes an even dough. If necessary, add a little more water and continue kneading.
• Cut off a small amount of dough and roll into a 1/2-inch thick log. Cut the log into 5-inch long pieces. Then form a 'doughnut-like' shape by pinching the opposite ends together. Repeat the above process with the remaining dough.
• Place the taralli in a pot of boiling water for about 1 minute or until they float to the surface.
• Stir to prevent them from sticking together. Remove the taralli from the water with a slotted spoon and dry off any excess water with a dishcloth.
• Line a baking tray with parchment paper and bake for approximately 10 minutes or until golden brown on one side. Turn the taralli over to cook the other side. Serve with wine.

Steps:

• Combine wine and water in a small bowl or measuring cup and add yeast. Stir until dissolved. Add olive oil and stir together.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle, or in a large bowl if mixing by hand, combine flours, salt and fennel or pepper. Mix for about half a minute at low speed, then add liquids and beat at low speed until mixture comes together, about 1 minute. Remove paddle and let sit for 5 minutes. Change to dough hook and beat on low speed for 3 to 5 minutes (5 to 7 minutes if kneading by hand), until dough is smooth. Remove from bowl, knead a few times on a lightly oiled surface, and shape into a ball.
• Clean and oil bowl and place dough in it, rounded side down first, then rounded side up. Cover bowl with plastic and place in a warm spot to proof for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Dough should be puffed but not doubled.
• Line 1 or 2 baking sheets with parchment and lightly oil parchment. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece into an 18-inch long rope. Cover each rope loosely with plastic or a towel as you roll the rest. Once all pieces are shaped into ropes, cut each rope into 3 equal pieces (6 inches long) and join their ends to form rings about 2 inches in diameters. Pinch ends together firmly (dough will bounce back). Place on prepared baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic or a towel and let proof for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large or medium pot of water to a boil.
• Set a dish towel or paper towels next to your pan of boiling water. After rings have risen for 1 hour, carefully remove 4 or 5 at a time from baking sheet and drop into boiling water. As soon as they float to surface - in a matter or seconds -- remove from water with a slotted spoon or skimmer and drain on towel. It should not take more than a few minutes to blanch all of the rounds. Return to baking sheet. Bake on middle rack for 30 minutes. Flip rings over and lower heat to 225 degrees. Return to oven and leave for 1 hour. Taralli should be crisp all the way through. Allow to cool, and store in tins.