Skillet-Baked Pepperoni Garlic Knots are a great football food recipe – Pizza dough is tied and tossed with pepperoni, garlic, herbs, and cheese
Ingredients
For the dough:
1cupwarm waterabout 115 degrees F
2.25tspquick rise yeast
1tspsugar
12.5ozby weight bread flour(2.5 cups, if measuring)
1tbspolive oil
3/4tspsalt
For the pepperoni bread:
2tbspolive oil
1/4poundthick-sliced pepperonicut into pieces
3tbspminced fresh garlic
1/2tspred pepper flakes
3tbspfresh chopped parsley
1/2cupshredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
1cupmarinara saucefor serving, optional
Instructions
Start with the dough. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, yeast, and sugar. Let it sit for 10 minutes, until it gets foamy. Add the bread flour, olive oil, and salt, and mix briefly with the dough hook to roughly combine, then fit the stand mixer with the dough hook and bowl. Knead the dough for 10 minutes on medium low speed, until the dough is smooth. Scrape the dough off the dough hook, then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size, which should take about 60 minutes.
On a lightly floured countertop, roll the pizza dough into a rectangle, and divide the dough into 16 pieces. Let the dough rest while you cook the pepperoni.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pepperoni slices and fry for 3 minutes until crispy. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for 1 more minute. Pour the mixture into a large bowl, then add the parsley and mozzarella cheese.
Roll each piece of dough into a long rope about 5-6 inches long, then tie each one into a knot. Once you have tied up all the dough, toss the knots in the pepperoni mixture, and stir to coat. Transfer the knots and ingredients into a cast-iron skillet or 8×11 baking dish and cover with plastic wrap, so it doesn’t dry out. Let the dough rise for about 90 minutes to 2 hours, until the dough has puffed up and fills the dish.
Bake the bread at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Serve the pepperoni bread warm with marinara sauce on the side for dunking, if desired. Enjoy!