Garlic Knots + Parmesan Cream Sauce
We’ve nailed down this homemade dough that can be stretched into a delicious pizza, stuffed to make a calzone OR tied up into Garlic Knots! I won’t take up much of your time here talking your ear off, I really just want us all to start making our own pizza dough at home. It is truly simple and delicious. Plus, it is a blank canvas for you and your family to get creative with. So, let’s make Garlic Knots. Oh and ya we are making a Parmesan Cream Sauce for dipping because WHY KNOT?! ;)
First things first, we are going to get our yeast blooming. I love using honey here but you can get away with 1 tsp of sugar too. Even though it is instant yeast, I like to let it bloom for ten minutes. It makes the dough so fluffy in the end.
Here is what the yeast mixture looks like after ten minutes …
Now add the flour, olive oil and salt and start mixing. Once the dough comes together set a timer for five minutes and let the mixer do the kneading for you.
After the dough kneads for five minutes it should be smooth and pull out of the mixing bowl easily. On a floured surface slice the dough into snake shapes and tie them into little knots. Be sure to make them all the same size.
Brush the dough knots with olive and bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Of course, if you didn’t want to make knots, you could have stretched out the dough into a pizza and topped it with whatever you'd like. The oven temp and cook time would stay the same.
While the knots are baking or while the yeast blooms, make the garlic butter. Once the knots come out of the oven slather them with garlic butter and ENJOY! Find the Garlic Butter how to below in the recipe section …
Now on to the Parmesan Cream Sauce … Look we love this sauce for dipping our Garlic Knots into. But it also tastes great on a pizza, or tossed with pasta. It starts out with butter and flour. Then you whisk in cream, milk, Parmesan and salt + pepper to taste. Whisk whisk whisk until thick and smooth. It is seriously delicious and worth a try if you love a decedent white sauce.
Ok, all I’m going to say is that this little combo here is quite good and 100% recommended from my family to yours! Find the recipe below and let me know if you make it!
Garlic Knots + Parmesan Cream Sauce
Garlic Knots
1 package of instant yeast
1 tsp honey
1 cup warm water
2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
2 tbs olive oil
1 tsp salt
*extra flour for surface while working with dough
*extra 2 tbs olive oil for brushing dough before baking
Garlic Butter
1 stick of softened unsalted butter
3-5 chopped garlic cloves
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp oregano
1/4 pepper
Parmesan Cream Sauce
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 tbs all purpose flour
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 ounce softened cream cheese
salt + pepper
Directions For Garlic Knots
Step 1: Start by warming 1 cup of water. You just want this to be slightly warm, I’ve found that 30 seconds in the microwave will do perfectly. Or warmed on the stove just until it feels like tepid bath water. In the bowl of your mixer, add the instant yeast, honey and warm water. Let this mixture sit for ten minutes.
Step 2: While the yeast blooms, mix together the garlic butter. In a bowl mix together the softened butter, garlic and seasoning until it comes together. Set this aside.
Step 3: After the yeast mixture sits for ten minutes, add the flour, olive oil and salt. Mix this with the dough hook. Once the dough starts to form, set a timer for five minutes and let the mixer kneed the dough.
Step 4: Once the five minute timer goes off, pull the dough and place on a floured surface. The dough should pull away easily from the mixing bowl.
Step 5: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Ready a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat, parchment paper or greased with olive oil.
Step 6: On a floured surface, use a pizza cutter or knife to slice thin pieces of dough. Roll it into a snake shape and tie it into a knot. Be sure to make each one relatively the same size so they cook at the same time.
Step 7: Brush the dough knots with olive oil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a soft golden brown. They should be slightly crisp on the outside and soft/fluffy on the inside.
Step 8: While the knots are warm, slather them with the garlic butter you made earlier! You can enjoy them just like this or make the Parmesan Cream Sauce for dipping!
Directions For Parmesan Cream Sauce
Step 1: In a pot or deep skillet melt the butter and flour together to make a roux. Cook these together until the flour is fully absorbed into the butter and it turns a golden color. This takes a bout 2 minutes or so.
Step 2: Whisk the cream, milk and Parmesan until the mixture becomes smooth. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce is too thick for your liking, add more cream or milk to thin it out!
