And it is time again for the “Secret recipe club” reveal! I am sure you all know what the club is about, but for the few of you who still don’t know about it, here goes a brief explanation. Each month you are assigned a participating food blogger to make a recipe from and in turn someone else will be assigned your blog. All you have to do is choose a recipe, make it and blog about it on the specified date. The only rule is to keep it a secret! If you are interested in learning more, or want to join the club, please visit the Secret recipe club website.
This month I was assigned yet another beautiful blog: Life’s Simple Measures by the very talented Jess. It is FULL of wonderful recipes and as always I had a hard time choosing only one to make. I was about to make her Dark Chocolate Lava Cookies which look to die for, but I had made another chocolate based sweet the day before and my guilt prevailed. So I went for a savoury dish that I had been wanting to try for a while: Soft Pretzel Bites. I can tell you that they did not disappoint! They were easy to make and delicious! I also gave some to my husband to take to work and they were a success. So, thank you heaps for sharing such a fantastic recipe Jess! This is a recipe that I will be making again and again! Please, make sure you drop by Jess at Life’s Simple Measures and check out her beautiful site!
I also want to thank Angie from Big Bear’s Wife who is my group’s hostess for all her help!!!
Recipe adapted from Life’s Simple Measures
Ingredients: (makes about 115 pretzel bites)
375 ml – 1 ½ cups warm water
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
7 gms – 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
560 gms – 4 ½ cups all purpose flour
60 gms – 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
150 gms – 2/3 cups baking soda
2.5 lt – 10 cups water
1 large egg
Sea Salt
Dissolve the sugar and yeast in the warm water. Mix and keep aside for 5 minutes or until frothy, to activate.
Put the flour, salt and butter in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a hook attachment. Add the yeast mixture and knead for 5 minutes or until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Put the dough in a bowl coated with vegetable oil. Cover it with cling wrap and let it rise for an hour or until it doubles in size.
Divide the dough into 16 pieces and roll each piece into 30 cm – 12 inch ropes. Cut the ropes into 2.5 cm – 1 inch pieces.
Fill a big saucepan with 2.5 lt – 10 cups of water and bring it to a boil. When it boils, add the baking soda. Put the pretzels in the boiling water and cook them for 30 seconds. Remove them from the pan and place them on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
Beat the egg and brush the top of the pretzel bites with it. Sprinkle them with some sea salt.
Bake in a pre heated oven at 230°C – 450°F for 6 to 8 minutes or until dark golden brown.
Let them cool down and serve plain or with your favourite dip or as my husband says, with an ice cold beer.
Yaaay, I’m so glad you tried these. I had a lot of fun making them and they are the BEST snack ever. I did have a little trouble with some of them tasting like baking soda because I think I poured in WAY too much into the water, but it doesn’t sound like you had that issue. I need some tips from you apparently 🙂
You have gorgeous pictures, too. I loved looking over your post! Glad to be in SRC with you!
These look fantastic!!!
That is a lot of pretzels! I agree with both you and your hubby…use a favorite dipping sauce and drink a beer!!
I love soft pretzels, I get them whenever I can, at food courts and what not I will have to try them at home. Could be delicious!
You have no idea how much I love pretzels especially the soft ones. These look perfect. I can’t wait to make these. I may have to try them this week. Thanks for sharing!
I am saving this recipe for FB season!
So, I’ve been wanting to make these for a long time, but I just haven’t because I was to nervous too. After looking over your post though, I think I may need to give it a try!
I want to reach into the screen and devour each and every one of these 🙂
These pretzel bites look amazing! I love making soft pretzels, and I’ll definitely have to try this recipe. Great SRC pick!
I love homemade pretzels! These look wonderful!
These look great – found you on tasteologie. I think I will try these using some great pizza dough from my local bakery. Thanks for a wonderful recipe, and helpful pics!
This looks fabulous! What a great pick for SRC.
Absolutely gorgeous Manu. I’ve been dying to try these out myself.
I have been dreaming about pretzels lately. I want to make a big batch of these and watch a movie!! Great pick this month.