This easy recipe makes 300g of shortcrust pastry for under £1. Proper home-made pastry, with no preservatives or unnecessary ingredients, that tastes great. Use this to make quiches, pies, Cornish pasties & much more. *From The Hungry Hungry Husband and Alison Haigh*
Course Lunch
Cuisine Sides/Accompaniments
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Total Time 35 minutesminutes
Servings 300grams
Calories 311kcal
Cost 15p per serving
Ingredients
200gplain flourplus a little extra for dusting
150gbutterchilled & cubed (I use salted butter; if you're using unsalted add a pinch of salt to your flour)
2tablespoonsice cold water
Instructions
Mix the fat & flour
Add the butter to the flour and use a pastry blender to chop the fat finely into the flour
*Alternatively* roll cold butter between 2 sheets of parchment paper then tear pieces off about the size of a little finger nail into the four
Keep chopping the butter & flour together until well combined
*Alternatively* lightly rub the butter & flour together with your fingertips, using cool hands to keep the butter as cold as possible
Make the dough
Add the iced water to the mixture
Use a dough scraper or a knife to “cut” the liquid through the mixture
Keep using the cutting motion and the dough will start to bind; be patient with this but if it's really not binding, add another ½ tbsp iced water
Once the dough has roughly come together, use your hands to shape it into a ball
Lay it on a well-floured surface and knead gently and briefly until it forms one smooth piece
Shape into a flat disc, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 15 minutes
Storing and using the dough:
After the dough has chilled, you can roll it out to your desired size & shape
Use short, sharp rolls with a well-floured rolling pin on a flour-dusted surface
If you're not planning on using the dough straightaway, you can freeze it until needed – wrapped in cling film and in a freezer bag
Notes
*tip*try to handle the dough as little as possible throughout the process, the key to good dough is keeping it cool.