Olive and Herb Knots

Ingredients

• 2 cups wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 0.5 cup black olives
• 2 tablespoons basil
• 2 tablespoons oregano
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. 1Dissolve yeast in warm water and let sit for 5 minutes until frothy.
2. 2In a large bowl, combine whole wheat flour, activated yeast mixture, and olive oil. Mix until a dough forms.
3. 3Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
4. 4Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
5. 5Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
6. 6Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Knead in the chopped black olives, minced garlic, chopped basil, and oregano.
7. 7Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope, then tie each rope into a knot. Place the knots on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. 8Brush the knots with a little olive oil and season with sea salt and black pepper.
9. 9Let the knots rise again for about 20 minutes until slightly puffed.
10. 10Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
11. 11Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before serving.
12. 12Serve the Olive and Herb Knots warm, ideally as an appetizer or side.