Taralli with chilli flakes or fennel seeds

From mid-Italy southwards, whenever a glass of something a bit bitter or boozy is offered, it’s quite probable that a small bowl of taralli pops out of a cupboard to go with your drink. It’s such a merry duo that there’s even a proverb about it: finire a tarallucci e vino — ‘ending up with taralli and wine’, which means that a dispute has ended amiably.

Nowadays, few people make their own taralli, as it requires a patience that rarely matches our time. Essentially, taralli ar