 Grissini in a restaurant inTurin, Italy | |
| Alternative names | Grissini (plural), grissino (singular) |
|---|---|
| Type | Bread |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Turin,Piedmont |
| Created by | Antonio Brunero (according to traditions) |
| Main ingredients | Flour, water,yeast |
Breadsticks, also known asgrissini (sg.: grissino;Piedmontese:ghërsin,Piedmontese:[gəɾˈsiŋ]), are generallypencil-sized sticks of crisp, dry bakedbread that originated in the Italian city ofTurin, Piedmont.
It is believed that the breadstick originated in 1643, when aFlorentine abbot described a long-shaped and "bone-thin" bread being made inLanzo Torinese, a town outside ofTurin.[1][2] Tradition states, however, that it originated in the region ofPiedmont in the 17th century, invented by a baker called Antonio Brunero, from Turin. It was a food that was intended to be easier to digest for the DukeVictor Amadeus II of Savoy, who had digestive problems in his childhood.[3][4][5][6]
In Italian restaurants, breadsticks are often offered as anappetizer (antipasto), especially in their traditional shape, together with or replacing bread, which is commonly provided with all meals. They may also be combined with ingredients such asprosciutto. This appears to be the case with restaurants in the United States as well;[7] in some instances or regions, they may be a type that is larger than pencil-sized, as well as soft instead of hard.
In many North American restaurants, breadsticks are soft, frequently topped with butter, garlic, and cheese when served as appetizers; as adessert item, they can be topped with cinnamon, sugar,[8] and icing.[9]
Pre-made, dried breadsticks can be found being sold in markets as a quick snack or a pre-meal appetizer for home use, somewhat similar to acracker. In Italy they are often consumed as a snack on their own, but in the United States they are usually served with a dip of some sort, such as cheese.[10]
Another recipe for breadsticks, calledrosquilletas, exists in theValencian Community.[11]
Media related toGrissini at Wikimedia Commons
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