These garlic parmesan knots can be made from scratch or made using store-bought fresh or frozen pizza dough. Great as a side for so many meals, or as mini, bite-sized knots with pizza or marinara sauce for a party treat.
If using ready-made dough, you can jump right to Step 5!
To make dough: To a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, add 1/4 cup warm water. Add sugar and sprinkle yeast over the water. Stir and let stand a few minutes.
Add flour and salt to yeast mixture. Add olive oil to another 1/4 cup of water and add to bowl. Stir or knead with dough hook until dough comes together. Add additional water or flour in small amounts, as necessary, to make a smooth dough that is not sticky or tacky. If mixing by hand, remove dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth. Knead a few minutes with a dough hook, if using a stand mixer.
Spray a bowl with oil and place dough ball into bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, finely mince a large clove of garlic and place in a small bowl. Add salt and mash into garlic with the back of a spoon. Add 3 Tbsp. of olive oil, stir and set aside. Finely chop the parsley and grate the Parmesan. Combine in a small bowl and set aside.
Preheat oven to 400 ° F. with rack in centre of oven, and brush a baking sheet with olive oil or line with parchment paper.
Place dough on a floured board or surface that you can cut on. Lightly flour the top of the dough and roll out into a 10-inch by 10-inch square. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough in half down the centre. Next, starting 2 inches from the top, cut from side to side. Make another cut from side to side 2 inches below that. Continue until you have 10 pieces that are 5 inches x 2 inches.
Lightly flour an area on your work surface and with each piece lightly dip both sides of the dough into the flour and then tie into a knot, stretching and you tie and tightening lightly. Place on a greased baking sheet or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Continue until you have made all your knots.
Bake in a pre-heated 400° F. oven for 18-20 minutes, or until very browned and hollow sounding when tapped. Remove from oven and immediately brush with garlic oil and sprinkle with parmesan/parsley mixture.
Buns can be made ahead and re-heated by placing in a 400° oven for 4 or 5 minutes.
To make mini knots: Follow the basic instructions above, but roll your dough into a 12-inch by 12-inch square and cut into 1-inch wide strips (you will have 24 strips when you're done). You'll need to prepare two baking sheets and place your racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven. Divide your knots between the two baking sheets. Bake for 8 minutes, then rotate baking sheets top to bottom and bake 8 minutes more. Watch closely in the last few minutes to ensure they don't over-brown. Serve with room temperature or warmed pizza or marinara sauce.
Notes
Be sure to read the additional notes above this Recipe Card, where I share more detailedtips, variations and substitution suggestions for this recipe!