There are many different types of pastry and most aresuitable for use with both savoury and sweet dishes. I plan to add the different types I come across in books and on the internet. Not all will be tried (I will say so if I have used them) but I hope that other people will find this listhelpful.All recipes from elsewhere will of course be credited. If you have a special pastry recipe (shortcrust or sweet Pâte Brisée)that is not listed here that you would like to share please leave the recipeinformation or a link to your sitein the comments box below.
To those towho I have linked I hope that you are happy to be credited here– thank you in advance!
Types of pastry in order of listing below:
Shortcrust
Orange Shortcrust (Nigella Lawson)
Crème FraîcheShortcrust (Zeb Bakes)
Cheese Pastry (Delia Smith)
Pâte Brisée (Joanne Harris’/Fran Warde)
Lemon Pastry (Nigel Slater)
Almond Pastry (The KitchenMaid)
Other ideas:
Chilli Cheese Pastry (Cherrapeno)
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Shortcrust Pastry
Notes
Shortcrustis the pastry that I use the most andtherefore has to be thefirst posted. I use my mother’s method for shortcrust pastry,which isalwayscrisp andbeautifully light. It is difficult to get a light resultas shortcrust pastryis often over handled and the finished result can be tough.Mymother’suse of self-raising rather than plain flour, plus a less fine ‘rubbingin’ of the flour and fat(to give the appearance of larger rather than fine breadcrumbs)givesa ‘shorter’ version, slightly more crumbly. I know it is not the traditional way to make shortcrust but it works for us and I therefore never use plain flour. If you want to make Shortcrust Pastry with plain rather than self-raising flour I suggest you follow the chilling and mixinginstructions for Orange Shortcrust pastry (below), omitting the orange.If I have time Iuse Nigella Lawson’s pre-freeze method (see orange shortcrust pastry)as it makes the starting mixture extra chilled – ideal for pastry.
Shortcrust Pastry is made using theproportion of ½ fats to flour (ie: 1oz fats to 2ozs flour). I usually makea larger amount of pastry than needed, cutting the finished ball in halfor thirds and without rolling out, freezing itfor later use well wrapped in plastic. Frozen pastry is almost, but not quite as good as, freshly made and I would always make fresh pastry if I was entertaining!
Method
(Makes enough to line a2 or 3flan dishes, depending on size)
12ozs/300g self-raising flour
A pinch of salt
3ozs/75g margerine (hard block type – not soft tub type)
3ozs/75g cookeen or trex white vegetableshortening(or lard if you prefer)
Cold water to mix together
1. Better results are achieved if the ingredients are cold. Wash your hands in cold water before handling the pastry.
2. Sift flour and salt together into a bowl. Cut the fat into small pieces and rub into the flour with the fingertips of one hand until you havea mixture that looks likemedium sized breadcrumbs.
3. Again using just one hand, add just enough cold water to make the dough bind together into a soft but not sticky ball. Too muchwater can make the pastry hard.It is important to avoid overhandling the pastry from this point.
4. Put the pastry ballinto a plastic bag and if possibleallow it to relaxin the fridge for at least 10 minutes before using for a better result.
5. When rolling out the pastry it should be placed on a floured surface and gently rolled in one direction only, rotating the pastry rather than the rolling pin, until it is about 3cm/⅛” thick. Try to avoid stretching the pastry as you lift it and line your dish. If possible, let the pastry rest for at least10minutes once rolled before baking to allow it to relax.
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Orange Shortcrust Pastry (Nigella Lawson)
Notes
I followed the instructions for this to the letter and the pastry was wonderful: short and light, with just a hint of orange taste. I will definitely be making this for mince pies from now on, butit may also make an appearance for other sweet pastry case desserts. I think the excessive chilling of the pastry is probably the key to its success, so this must not be skipped.
The original recipe can be found in Feast: Food that Celebrates Life by Nigella Lawson as part of her recipe for Star Topped Mince Pies.
Method
(makes 12-14 mince pies, without lids but witha small pastry decoration on top)
240g plain flour
6og vegetable shortening
60g unsalted butter
juice of 1 orange
pinch of salt
1. Sift the flour into a basin add the fats cutinto small pieces and put in the freezer for 20minutes.
2. Squeeze the orange into a jug – heating the orange slightly will help it yield more juice. Add the salt to the juice. Place the jug in the fridgealong witha separate jugcontaining some water in caseextra liquidis needed.
3. Put the flour and fat mixture into a food processor and mix until the contents look like porridge oats.
4. Incorporate the orange juice and process until the mixture starts to stick together.You may find that you donot need touse all the juice, or need a little extra chilled water. Remove from the processor and form into a ball with your hands.
5. Divide the mixture in half, put each half in a plastic bagand chill in the fridge for at least 20minutes before using. Nigella made trays of small co*cktail sized pies and suggested the mixture was divided into 3 rather than 2, unless you had enough trays to make all the pies at once.
6. The pastry is very easy to work and can be re-rolled successfully several times.
7. WhenI hadrolled and filled a tray of pies, I put them back in the fridge for at least 10minutes before cooking as the pastry had come to (warm) room temperature whilst being cut.
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Crème FraîcheShortcrust (found at Zeb Bakes)
Notes
This recipe is currently untried by me but it sounds unusual:richer than conventional shortcrust but not as rich as Pâte Brisée (below)
Method
100 grams plainflour
a pinch of salt
50 grams cold butter
1 tbsp crème fraîche
1. Sift the flour and salt together.
2.Cut the butter into small pieces and rub in.
3. Add crème fraîcheto bring the pastry together.
4. As with other pastries, handle as little as possible and chill before using.
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Cheese Pastry (Delia Smith)
Notes
This is a lovely pastry to use for savoury flans, such as Turkey Flan with Leeks & Cheese, from the book Delia Smith’s Christmas. Any leftover pieces could be used to make small cheesy nibble biscuits or cut into lengths and baked as cheese straws. If I have time Iuse Nigella Lawson’s pre-freeze method (see orange shortcrust pastry) as it makes the starting mixture extra chilled – ideal for pastry.
Method
2oz (50g) Cheddar cheese, grated
6oz (175g) self-raising flour
3oz (75g) butter/margerine (hard block type – not soft tub type)
½level tsp mustard powder
salt & freshly milled black pepper
1. Cut the fat into small pieces and put with the flour in the freezer for 20minutes to pre-chill, then rub the flour into thefat till crumbly.
2. Add the cheese, mustard and seasoningalong with just enough cold water to make a dough that leaves the bowl clean.
3. Place the dough in a polythene bag and leave to rest in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or so before rolling out. If the dough is difficult to work it could help if it was rolled out between two sheets of cling film, re-chilling the dough if necessary.
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Pâte Brisée Pastry (Joanne Harris/Fran Warde)
Notes
This is an untried (as yet) recipe forthis pastry, which is used in particular for French style dessert tarts. I made Pâte Brisée many years ago while at school from a long forgotten recipeand remember itas successful, but the pastrydifficult to handle. The recommendation that everything is kept verycool is important. Run your hands undercold water beforemaking and take ingredients straight from the fridge. If you can make it in a cooler environment than a kitchen with hot ovenit would be very helpful. I have recently made some cheese biscuits with a similarly soft dough and the instructions suggested that it was rolled out between two sheets of clingfilm, which was extremely successful. I think this might help here, plus of course putting the pastry in the fridge to re-chill as necessary. If I have time Iwould use Nigella Lawson’s pre-freeze method (see orange shortcrust pastry) as it makes the starting mixture extra chilled – ideal for pastry.
The original recipe comes from from The French Kitchen by Joanne Harris & Fran Warde.It was recommended for Tarte Citron.
Method
(enough to line a 25cm tin)
250g plain flour
175g butter, cut into small pieces
20g unrefined caster sugar
1 egg
2 tsp water
1. Rub the flour andbutter together with your fingertips until it is like breadcrumbs. (Keep fingers and kitchen environmentas cool as possible.) Mix in the sugar.
2. Add the egg and water and mix together with the end of a knife using a cutting action until a dough ball forms.
3. Put onto a cool floured work surface and knead lightly for a minute with your palm to ensurea smooth pastry.
4. Wrap and place in the fridge for 40minutes.
5. Lightly butter a 25cm loose bottom flan tin.
6. Roll out pastryon a lightly floured surface and use to line the tin. Trim the edges with a knife and place in the fridge for 20minutes to chill and relax.
7. Fill and bake as in recipe. There is no need to bake the caseblind (part bake unfilled) before use.
LemonPastry (Nigel Slater)
Notes
This Pâte Brisée type pastry comes from a Nigel Slaterrecipe inhis weekly Observer newspaper column onSunday 25 July 2010. The only change I have made is to substitute ordinary caster sugar for the golden caster originally specified. My one concern is the instruction that the pastry should be kneaded, albeit lightly: I had thought that the best pastry was handled as little as possible, but I reserve judgement. I have not yet had a chance to make this, butI have no reason to think that Lemon Pastry would be just as delicious as the Orange Pastry whichI make regularly.This pastry was used in a piefilled with fresh peaches, flavoured with orange zest and served with cream.
Method
(enough to line a 24cm tin, serving 6)
150g butter
150g caster sugar
1 egg
the grated zest of a small lemon
250g flour
1 tsp baking powder
a little milk and sugar to finish
1. Lightly butter the pie plate and set the oven at 180C/gas mark 4.
2. Cream the butter and sugar togetheruntil light and fluffy. Mix in the egg andcontinue creaming and add the grated lemon zest.
3. Sift the flour and the baking powder together and gently foldinto the creamed mixture.
4.Make the dough into a ball, place on a floured work surface and knead very lightly for a minute or so. Cut in half.
5.Line the pie plate with one half of the dough and place both it and the remainingpiece of doughin the fridge.
6. Once the pie is filled, roll out the reserved pastry to make agenerouscovers for the dish. Brush theedge of the pastry alreadyin the pie plate withmilk and cover with the second piece of pastry.
7. Press or pinch the edges gentlytogether, brush the pie lightly with milk and sprinkle with sugar. Make a small hole orslit in themiddle of the piecrust so the steam can escape.
8. Bake for about 40 minutes or until the crust is golden.Allow to rest for at least10-15 minutes before serving.
Almond Pastry (The KitchenMaid)
Notes
This recipe was found at The Kitchen Maid(based in Australia)who used it for mincepies. I have yet to try this but it sounds delicious and a good way to add an almond flavour to a flan. The recipe can be made in a mixer or by hand. It would be good adapted by adding other ground nuts: pistachios would be delicious and would add an interesting green tinge to the pastry. The quantity belowis enough foraprox 24 standard sizemince pies with lids.
250g plain flour
50g ground almonds (or experiment withother ground nuts)
100g icing sugar
190g fridge cold butter, diced
1 egg yolk
1tbsp ice cold water
1. Put the flour, almonds, sugar and butter intoa mixer, processor or a bowl and mix until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
2. Mix the egg yolk and water in a cup and mix in small bursts of speedby machine or byhand until the mixture clumps together.
3. Make a flat disc with the mixture usingyour hands, cover with cling film or put in a plastic bag. Leave in a cool place for at least 20 minutes.
4. Roll the pastry disc out between two large pieces of greaseproof paper or cling film, which makes it much easier to roll and cuts down on mess.
5. Use as required to line a large or individual tins. Filled tarts should be baked in a hot oven. Bake the filled tarts in a hot oven(200-210oC/400-420oF/Gas6-6.5for about 12 minutes.
