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Grenki

Garlic fried rye bread

Grenki (Гренки): fried rye bread sticks rubbed with garlic and salt

In Moscow bars and railway buffets a plate of grenki, strips of dark Borodinsky-style rye fried until crunchy and rubbed with raw garlic, comes with every order of kvass, and at home they are what you make with the end of the loaf on a Friday night. They are also dropped into bowls of pea soup or borscht. The bread should be crisp outside and still a little chewy in the middle. The common mistake is rubbing the garlic on cold bread: it only works while the toast is hot and rough. Chef's tip: use bread a day or two old; fresh rye soaks up oil like a sponge.
Total time
15 min
Difficulty
easy
Serves
4
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Ingredients

Serves4

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Method

0/2 done
  1. Step 1: Heat 4 tbsp sunflower oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry 10 ½ oz dark rye bread in one layer, turning, for 6–8 minutes until every side is dark and crisp and sounds hollow when tapped.

    8 min
  2. Step 2: While still hot, rub each stick with the cut side of 4 cloves garlic and sprinkle with 1 tsp flaky salt. Serve straight away.

    2 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
220 kcal
Protein
4 g
Carbs
28 g
Fat
10 g
Fibre
4 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does grenki take?
About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegan?
Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
What can I use instead of garlic?
½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.

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