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Simple Shortcrust Pastry Recipe

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 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 300 grams
Calories 311kcal
Cost 15p per serving

Ingredients

  • 200 g plain flour plus a little extra for dusting
  • 150 g butter chilled & cubed (I use salted butter; if you're using unsalted add a pinch of salt to your flour)
  • 2 tablespoons ice 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.