Week 13 - Tortas De Aceite (Olive Oil Biscuits)

This was a recipe that really interested me when I first looked at it. While I love sweets I steer towards savoury 9 times out of 10. This ended up being the best of both worlds as there was hardly any sugar in the recipe, the unique taste of olive oil and a delicate crust of sugar over the top.

Be careful.. very addictive!

Olive oil & yeast

Ready to bake

Warm and ready for eating

Book: Jamie Does...

Recipe: Tortas De Aceite (Incredible Olive Oil Biscuits)

Ingredients: 

Makes 12

300g Type '00' flour
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
Spanish extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons golden caster sugar plus extra for dusting
1 x 7g sachet of dried yeast
icing sugar, for dusting
plain flour, for dusting
1 large egg white, preferably free range, beaten

Method: 

Preheat the oven to 230°c. Mix the flour, salt and fennel seeds in a bowl. Pour 100ml of extra virgin olive oil into a jug with 150ml of warm water then add the golden caster sugar and yeast and mix well. Leave for a few minutes.

Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and slowly pour in the yeast mixture, using a fork gradually mix in the flour from the outside as you go. When it all starts to come together, use your hands to mix it into a lovely smooth dough.

Lightly oil two large baking trays, then dust them with icing sugar. Lightly flour a clean work surface and a rolling pin. Divide your dough into 12 equal-sized pieces and roll each one into a ball, then roll out each ball until it's about 10cm in diameter. Put these on your trays, and brush each one with some beaten egg white. Dust each biscuit lightly with icing sugar so they all have an even coating, and scatter over a little golden caster sugar.

Cook in the hot oven for around 10 to 12 minutes or until golden and crisp. Transfer to wire racks to cool, then tuck in.

Changes Made: Only had white caster sugar.

Results: These were so yummy, the ones that were rolled out thinner were definitely better. 

Next Time: Roll them out thinner.