Primizie Italian Red Chile & Herbs Crispbreads

I had a tough time deciding whether to tell you about this great snack bread, because it isn’t widely available yet.  Sharing wonderful foods that are easily obtained through retail markets or online sources is our primary goal, but this crispbread is too good to keep under wraps.  When I saw the Primizie display at Central Market, I thought I was purchasing a bag of traditional flavored chips, but I was very wrong.

The bag described the contents as “thick cut, handmade crispbreads”, so I was expecting something similar to a pita chip.  Wrong, again.  The crispbreads are thicker and crispier than most pita chips I’ve tried.  I could immediately imagine them holding up well to the most substantial dip, but I wanted to show you how beautifully rustic the chips are, unadorned by dips and spreads.  You already want one, don’t you?  The Italian seasoning is  flavorful enough to enjoy the chips alone, but delicate enough not to compete with a dip.  This artichoke dip recipe immediately came to mind.  It is a great last-minute dish because it has only three ingredients that are usually on hand in our kitchen.

Hot Artichoke Dip

Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 1 1/2 quart baking dish.

1 cup mayonnaise (always use a quality product)

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, drained

Place mayonnaise and cheese in food processor.  Mix slightly.  Add artichokes and pulse for 4-6 seconds, only until gently chopped and mixed.  To serve hot, place in oven for 20-30 minutes.

Source:  From My Kitchen, A cookbook of simple, Southern Recipes by Barbara Richardson McClellan

These wonderful crispbreads were created by Austin, Texas caterers Mark and Lisa Spedale.  The dough is grilled, then fried for uniquely crisp chips.

After the crispbreads became a hit with their catering clients, the Spedales made plans for retail sales.  They are available in the Austin area, and I was fortunate enough to find them in Plano’s Central Market (Dallas area).  I hope you will turn any frustration over not being able to find Primizie snacks into action!  Go to the company’s website and launch an email to see when Primizie’s might be available in your area.  Lobby your local grocery or specialty market to stock Primizie’s, too.  It will be worth your effort!