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Paraguayan Gellete or Kokitos

I thought that after Judy's post about Yerba Mate, I would post a common snack that is served along with the Paraguay Tea. These are little hard crunchy balls of bread dough, either made into bread sticks or little balls. Paraguay is a very hot country and these were baked to preserve the bread longer when no way better way of storing the bread that was available, years ago. They are very time consuming and they get eaten up like popcorn, so I very rarely make them.


  • 3 cups of warm water
  • 1 pkg instant yeast
  • 2 t. salt
  • 2 t. anise seed
  • 1 cup oil
  • 8 cups of flour (approx)
  1. Combine all ingredients together and knead the dough together well...adding enough flour to make a firm dough.
  2. Let rise about 1/2 hour.
  3. Take little pieces of dough and roll into a pencil strip.
  4. Cut into pieces, according to desired length.
  5. Bake @ 300, for 40 minutes. 
  6. After all the pans have been baked. Put them all into a roaster and back into the oven and bake again for another 30 minutes shaking them in between to have an even bake. It may take a little longer if the balls are larger ones and soft. The end result should be very hard and crunchy balls.

8 comments:

  1. I've had these ... I think that half a life time ago, when they lived in Paraguay, my mil made these to sell. They are dry like pretzels but not as salty.

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  2. Thank you so for your kind words on my TT. I really appreciate it very much.

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  3. I have never heard of this but it sounds like something I would like! I've been so hungry for salty snacks lately and just bought a bag of pretzels at the store! I will definitely want to try these! Thank you!

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  4. Thanks for posting this recipe, Char, my mom made these all the time. She would bake us a few bags (small ones) when we went on holidays the kids loved eating them in the car and when we went on long walks. They keep forever. I did not get the recipe from her,she left us too soon, it was her specialty. Next time we go camping I will have to make them. Thanks!

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  5. This looks like an iteresting recipe Char..I haven't heard of these before! I'm thinking they are a good snack!

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  6. Gosh....I love homemade snacks...and these look so good. Bring a basket of them over and I'll rent a great movie to watch one of these snowy evenings.

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  7. Ohh..I know I would love these... I wonder if there is any way they could be made gluten-free.....
    Would be worth a try ...

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  8. Fantastic, I have lived for 7 years in villa ule, calle iturbe in Paraguay and loved my kokito with mate every morning,
    no I can bring those memorise back to australi

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