Garlic and Oregano Breadsticks — Homemade Palitos de Ajo Recipe

Versión en Español

Palitos de ajo y oregano are homemade breadsticks made from a simple pizza style dough flavored with crushed garlic, oregano, and a little lard, shaped into thin sticks and baked until lightly golden. They take 40 minutes of preparation plus 20 minutes of baking and serve 6 people.

They are an easy appetizer for any occasion and go perfectly with all kinds of sauces and cocktails. Below you will also find a cheesy garlic stick version in the style of the pizzeria chain Papa John’s.

How to Make Garlic and Oregano Breadsticks?

These breadsticks are quick and easy to make from a basic wheat flour pizza dough, to which you add crushed garlic, a touch of sugar, and oregano. After one rise, the dough is rolled into sticks and baked.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of garlic and oregano breadsticks contains approximately 272 kcal, 44 g of carbohydrates, 7 g of fat, 6 g of protein, 2 g of fiber, 1 g of sugars, 5 mg of cholesterol, and 497 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

Homemade Palitos de Ajo y Oregano Recipe

Preparation: 40 minutes
Cooking: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients for the Garlic Breadsticks

• 400 g (3 1/4 cups) of flour
• 300 ml (10 fl oz) of water
• 3 garlic cloves
• 30 g (1 oz) of lard
• 2 teaspoons of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Dried oregano

Instructions for the Garlic Breadsticks

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in a little warm water, add the dry yeast, stir, and let it rest in a warm place until it starts to bubble, about 10 minutes. In another large bowl, sift the flour, add the salt, and mix with your fingers.

2. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture, the finely crushed garlic, the lard, oregano to taste, and the rest of the water, and mix well with a wooden spoon. Turn the dough out onto a smooth surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth, then let it rest, covered with a clean cloth, for about 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

3. Preheat the oven to 200 C (392 F) for about 10 minutes. Cut the dough with a knife and roll it by hand into round sticks about 20 cm long and 1 cm thick, arrange them on a greased baking tray, and bake for about 20 minutes until lightly golden. Let them cool slightly on a rack before serving.

Ingredients for the Cheesy Garlic Sticks (Papa John’s Style)

• 225 g (8 oz) of pizza dough
• 120 g (4.2 oz) of mozzarella cheese
• 40 g (1.4 oz) of Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons of butter, softened
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Fine salt
• Black pepper

Instructions for the Cheesy Garlic Sticks

1. Preheat the oven to 250 C (482 F) for about 20 minutes, ideally with a pizza stone inside, or with an upside down baking sheet. In a medium bowl, mix the softened butter with the finely minced garlic. Roll out the pizza dough into a 30 cm (12 in) circle on parchment paper.

2. Spread the garlic butter over the dough, scatter the grated cheeses evenly, season with a little salt and pepper if you like, and slide the dough onto the hot stone or tray. Bake for 10 minutes or until the top is bubbling and golden, let it cool for a couple of minutes, cut into sticks, and serve immediately.

Additional Tips

Add olive oil for softer sticks

For a fluffier texture and to keep the breadsticks from turning hard, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the dough while kneading.

Brush twice with garlic butter

Brush the sticks with garlic butter twice: once before they go into the oven and again after 10 minutes of baking.

Cover them after baking

As soon as they come out of the oven, cover the breadsticks with a clean cloth so they stay soft inside.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I keep the breadsticks from getting hard or dry?

Do not overbake them and keep the moisture in. Bake only until lightly golden, brush generously with garlic butter, and cover them with a clean cloth after they come out of the oven.

2. Can I replace the oregano with another herb?

Fresh basil, finely chopped rosemary, thyme, or parsley all work, as does a mix of Italian herbs. Use about a teaspoon for every 400 g of flour.

3. Can I make them ahead and freeze them?

The dough freezes for up to 3 months; thaw it in the refrigerator and let it rise before baking. Baked breadsticks freeze for 1 month and can be reheated for 5 minutes in a preheated oven.

4. How should I store them?

Once completely cool, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To make them crisp again, reheat them at 160 C (320 F) for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.

What Are Palitos de Ajo?

Palitos de ajo are garlic breadsticks, a popular appetizer in Chilean homes and pizzerias. They are made from the same kind of dough as pizza, flavored with garlic and herbs, and served warm with dips or as a side to drinks.

Garlic in Chilean Cooking

Garlic is one of the most used seasonings in Chile, from pebre and adobos for grilled meat to the smoked garlic of Chiloe. These breadsticks put it front and center in an easy baked snack.

Did You Know?

The garlic plant is a perennial with long, thin, flat leaves that can reach about 30 cm, and its bulb forms a head divided into segments, the cloves.

Recommended

• Chilean Pan Amasado Recipe
• Chilean Pan Coliza Recipe
• Chilean Toasted Flour Bread Recipe
• Chilean Cold Pichanga Recipe