I just love sweet & salty popcorn. That’s not all. I think I generally love sweet & salty flavoured foods. Take my last post for example. A sweet & salty orange, date & green olive salad. Well that is exactly what has led me to this post.
Breadsticks that capture the sweet and salty combination . Green olives & dates. If I do like a flavour combination, I do tend to run with it for a recipe or two, maybe even three. But what I love is that the flavours taste quite different baked in bread. The dates melt a little and the olives have a sharp salty tang. So good, I hope you will consider trying this recipe.
My children are breadstick fanatics and also love olives but the dates do divide them (only 1 of 3 approves). But, they all adored these breadsticks so I think they qualify for the Family Foodies challenge of HIDDEN GOODIES. This is co hosted by Vanesther at Bangers&Mash and Louisa at Eat your Veg.
They are also mighty healthy, especially when compared to shop bought bread so I am entering them into One Ingredient, which I co-host with Nazima over at Franglais Kitchen. The theme is HEALTHY.
I am also sending this over to Feel Good Food hosted by Victoria at A Kick at the Pantry Door. The theme is TASTY & INEXPENSIVE. Perfect, as these little bread snacks cost so little to make and make use of ingredients that I always have in the cupboard.

Green olive & date breadsticks
Ingredients
- 250 g "00" flour
- 1 tsp Fast action yeast
- 1 tsp Salt
- 150 ml Tepid water
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 12 Green olives finely chopped
- 6 Dates finely chopped
Instructions
Measure the flour, yeast, salt, water and oil and place in a food processor with a dough hook attachment, or put the ingredients into a large bowl if your are kneading by hand,
Knead the dough for around 8 minutes,
Add in the chopped dates & olives and continue to knead for a further 1 or 2 minutes,
Leave the dough to prove for about 1 hour covered with a cloth/tea towel,
After the dough has risen separate into 10 little balls and roll them (back & forth on a work surface) into long breadsticks. You will need to oil the work surface which will prevent the breadsticks form sticking when you shape them,
Bake in a pre-heated oven (200 degrees) for 10/15 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch,
Leave them to cool before enjoying as a snack/accompaniment to soup.
These just sound perfect, and would be a good snack for a play date too, I’m really loving your sweet and salty posts!
True Jude, breadsticks are universally loved by children!
Another great idea for the olive and date combo! These sound like something my kids would really enjoy… I might even get some help in making them.
I hope so Sarah, the shaping is the best bit apart from eating of course!
We get through rather a lot of breadsticks in our house and I think your olive and date version would go down a storm here. Thanks so much for sharing with this month’s Family Foodies challenge – a perfect entry.
Thanks and I hope your kids enjoy them if you try them out x
These look fab! My son would devour them definitely. I keep thinking I should make some breadsticks but always end up thinking “we need a new loaf” and baking whole lot of dough together.
I know, we get through so much bread here. I often use any spare pizza dough to make breadsticks with.
I love homemade breadsticks, so very different from the ones you buy. I haven’t made any for ages. I really must make the effort. These look excellent, even though I’m not keen on olives, I don’t mind them in things.
I really like this classy and tasty sounding breadstick! I’m certain we will all love this, including my toddler with refined taste..I will be pleased to get some dates into him xx
Great recipe Laura – my absolute favourite combo is sweet and salty so you’re right on the money with this! I am disgraceful and have been known to throw a handful of haribos in with a packet of crisps. Yikes! Anyway for some reason i’ve never made breadsticks, but you’ve totally inspired me to have a go as i’m sure they are much nicer than dry old supermarket ones 🙂
I agree with Deena – classy looking breadsticks. I am intrigued by the flavour combination> intrigued enough to try!
Loving these Laura! Sweet and salty is my all time favourite combination so these sound perfect to me. I went through a stage of making my own breadsticks but have to admit that it’s been more than a little while since I’ve made them now, I think these might change that!
Delicious! Perfect for pre dinner nibbles too! What a lovely combo of flavours.
Thanks Helen 🙂