Fennel Taralli Crackers - Sfizi

Fennel seeds infuse warm, sweet anise flavor into these taralli, which are arguably the most quintessential after Classic. They taste like aperitivo in the piazza at golden hour. Pair them with your favorite wine and favorite people. These traditional Italian snack crackers from Puglia, the heel of the boot, are made with care by two brothers, Francesco and Vito, who left their desk jobs to pursue their passion for preserving their culinary heritage and to build a family business from the ground up (we can relate). Crafted with just a few simple ingredients, what makes these particular taralli the very best we’ve tasted (and trust us, we’ve tasted a lot), is that Francesco and Vito take the extra step of boiling their taralli before baking. It’s the traditional way to do things but a step many tarallifici (taralli producers) skip because of the extra labor involved. The results are ultra crispy, crumbly, and flaky, while also being lighter and less dense.