GARLIC CRACKER RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Put the flour, yeast and 1 teaspoon of sea salt into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Gradually pour in 550ml of tepid water, continuously stirring and bringing in the flour from the outside as you go to form a rough dough.
  2. Transfer to a flour-dusted surface and knead for 10 minutes, or until smooth and springy. Place in a bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and prove in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  3. Meanwhile, make the butter – this is a big batch, to make good use of your time, and you can freeze the extra for rainy days. Use a garlic crusher to crush the garlic into the softened butter, finely grate over the zest of ½ a lemon, finely chop and add the parsley (stalks and all), the cayenne and a pinch of salt, then mix it all together.
  4. Remove one quarter to use in this recipe, then place the rest on a sheet of greaseproof paper, roll it up into a log and twist the ends like a Christmas cracker, then pop into the freezer.
  5. After 30 minutes, get the butter out and slice it up to pre-portion, then re-roll and return to the freezer, where it will keep very happily for up to 6 months.
  6. Spread one third of your soft butter portion all around the base and sides of a large metal tray (25cm x 35cm), then scatter in the breadcrumbs and shake around into an even layer so they stick to the butter.
  7. Divide up the dough into 35 pieces, then, one-by-one, roll each one into a ball and place in the tray in rows – 5 balls across and 7 balls long is perfect.
  8. Bomb over another third of the soft butter, in and around the balls. Leave to prove for another 1 hour 30 minutes, or until doubled in size again.
  9. Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/gas 5.
  10. Sprinkle the balls with a little salt, then bake on the bottom shelf of the oven for 30 minutes, or until lovely and golden.
  11. Bomb over that final third of your soft butter and spread it around to give the bread a beautiful shine.
  12. Whack the tray in the middle of the table or at the centre of your picnic for sharing, and let everyone tear off their own pieces.

Steps:

• Light the barbecue. Chop the mozzarella and taleggio into small chunks and tip into a bowl with the butter, garlic, herbs and some salt and pepper. If you want, you can mix everything together with a wooden spoon, but I prefer to use my hands.
• Using a bread knife, cut diagonal slices along the loaf about three quarters of the way into the bread – don’t cut all the way through. If it looks like the bread won’t fit on the barbecue, cut it in half and make two smaller ones.
• Push the garlic butter generously between each cut, allowing some to ooze onto the top – it will caramelise and taste superb. Sprinkle the paprika over. Wrap the bread up like a cracker in a double thickness of foil. You can prepare to this stage up to a day ahead.
• Put the pack straight onto the barbecue. Cook for 2 minutes then roll it over onto its side and cook for 2 minutes more. Roll it onto its other side and cook for a further 2 minutes. Have a peek – if the cheese is melting and the bread is crispy, remove it from the barbie. Pull the slices apart and eat while hot and gooey.