Mixed Mushroom Soft Bread Sticks #BreadBakers

These mixed mushroom soft bread sticks are flavored with dried mushrooms, ground to a powder. They impart a hint of umami that complements the garlic. 

When our Bread Bakers host for April picked “mushrooms” for our theme, I debated about what to make. First thoughts were 1. either something with mushrooms as an ingredient or 2. with mushrooms as a topping. 

But as I started to explore my options, I came across a site selling mushroom powder and was intrigued. I have Trader Joe’s Umami Seasoning in the cupboard which contains both porcini and white mushroom powder, along with a few other seasonings. It’s great sprinkled on almost anything savory. 

Since I always have dried mushrooms in the pantry, I decided I’d make my own mushroom powder and incorporate it in a bread stick recipe. While I did have a bag of just shiitakes, the mixed bag seemed like a better idea for depth of flavor. 

Mixed Mushroom Soft Bread Sticks

This recipe is adapted from one on Woodland Foods, where they also sell dried mushroom powder, if you can't be bothered to make your own. It makes eight long bread sticks but if you prefer, you can divide them in half to make 16 shorter ones. 

Ingredients

1 cup or 240ml warm water, divided

1 rounded teaspoon active dry yeast

2  2/3 cups or 332g flour, plus extra for dusting

1/4 oz or 7g mixed dried mushrooms (or any single variety)

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, divided

1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt

1 small clove garlic, mashed and minced

Optional for finishing: Extra melted butter and flakey sea salt. 

Method

Brush the dried mushrooms with a clean, dry brush to remove any dirt or dust. 

Use a spice grinder to grind the mushrooms to a powder. I use a coffee bean grinder that I reserve for only spices which works great. 

Place 1/4 cup warm water and the sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer. Sprinkle in yeast and set aside until foamy, about 5 minutes.

Assuming your yeast has bubbled up and is active, add in the flour, 2 tablespoons of the butter, 1 teaspoon of the salt, 3/4 cup or 180ml of water and most of the ground mushrooms, leaving a half teaspoon or so for brushing on with butter before baking. 

Mix with paddle attachment until a slightly sticky dough forms.

Switch to the dough hook and knead until the dough is very smooth and soft, about five minutes. 

Turn the dough out only a floured surface. Cut it into eight equal pieces and roll them each into a ball. Roll the balls out into 14-inch or 35cm long bread sticks. 

I’m lazy so I kept mine long so that I didn’t have to leave space between the end of the bread sticks which would probably meant having to bake them in two batches. 

 

As you roll them out, arrange the bread sticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with cloth or cling film, and let rise in warm spot until almost doubled.

 

Preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C.

Melt the remaining butter. Mix the melted butter with the remaining ground mushrooms and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Brush the mixture onto the bread sticks.

Bake the bread sticks in the preheated oven until golden, about 13-15 minutes.

If desired, brush the breadsticks with a little extra melted butter and sprinkle with flakey sea salt. 

Enjoy warm or at room temperature. 

My taste testers all agreed that while the mushroom flavor wasn’t prominent, the mushroom powder definitely added umami to the bread sticks. 

Enjoy! 

It’s the second Tuesday of the month so that means it’s Bread Baker time! Check out mushroom recipes we are sharing below. Many thanks to our host, Sue of Palatable Pastime. 

Pepperoni and Mushroom Pan Pizza from Karen’s Kitchen Stories

Cheesy Mushroom Calzone from Sneha’s Recipe

Wild Mushroom Flatbread from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Mushroom Swiss Bread from Palatable Pastime

Mixed Mushroom Soft Bread Sticks from Food Lust People Love

Porcini Swirl Bread from A Messy Kitchen

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

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