HERBED OYSTER CRAKERS

Herbed Oyster Crakers image

Yield Makes about 4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 9

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1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast (from a 1/4-ounce package)
Pinch of sugar
1/2 cup lukewarm (105-115ºF) water
1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Steps:

Stir yeast and sugar into warm water in measuring cup and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.) Stir together 1 1/4 cups flour, thyme, salt, and cayenne, then make a well in center and add yeast mixture and oil, stirring to form a dough.
Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead in 2 to 3 tablespoons flour (dough should be moist but not sticky). Knead until smooth and elastic, about 6 minutes, then transfer to a lightly oiled large bowl and let rise, covered with plastic wrap, in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Roll out dough as thin as possible (into an 18-inch square) with a lightly floured rolling pin on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle with kosher salt and gently press salt to help adhere. Cut dough into 1-inch squares with a pizza wheel or large sharp knife. Transfer with a lightly floured metal spatula to 3 lightly oiled baking sheets, placing squares close together.
Bake in batches in middle of oven, rotating sheets halfway through baking, until bottoms are golden (tops will remain pale), 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. (Crackers will crisp as they cool.)