The next time that you have extra pizza dough left over from making pizza for yourself or your family, try this easy recipe for making your own bread sticks. Even if you are not making a pizza, pre-made dough can be purchased from most pizzerias and grocery stores. Bread sticks are a delicious accompaniment to any meal and can be made in a few short minutes.
Leave the dough out on the counter until it is room temperature. Cold pizza dough is difficult to flatten and shape.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the dough on a floured counter or cutting board. Use your hands or a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a rectangle that is about ½ inch thick.
Finely mince one clove of garlic. Place in a small bowl. Mix in ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes and ½ tsp. kosher salt. Set aside.
Using a basting brush, or the back of a spoon if you don’t have a brush, spread a thin coating of olive oil onto the dough. Sprinkle the dough evenly with a thin layer of Parmesan cheese. Then, evenly apply the spice mixture.
Use a knife of a pizza cutter to slice the dough into 1 inch strips. Transfer to an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the bread sticks are golden brown.
Tip
If you like your bread sticks crispy, try rolling the dough out thinner, cutting it into 1/2 inch strips and twisting them before baking.