How to Make Puff Pastry

Puff pastry is delicious and is such a popular pastry, everyone loves it! Yet it is also the pastry most people are afraid to make at home. When you have made your puff pastry this way you will never want to buy it again! It is quite easy, needs a little time but if you make it ahead you will have the best and tastiest pastry you have ever tasted.

It can be used for desserts or savoury dishes, so is very versatile. Especially good for vol-au-vents cases!

To begin with make a small amount and see how much this will make for you. You can always increase your ingredients and make as much as you want.

Ingredients

• 8oz, 230g, plain all purpose flour

• 8oz, 230g, unsalted butter (slightly softened)

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 cup water, 4fl oz, 240ml

Method

• Sieve the flour and salt into a large baking bowl

• Add the water and mix to a dough.

• Leave to rest for about 15 minutes

• Roll the dough into a square about 8 inches and place the butter in the centre

• Now fold the edges of the pastry over the butter covering it completely.

• Leave to rest for ten minutes then roll into an oblong shape

• Fold in three then roll again

• Leave the pastry to rest again

• Repeat the above another three times and rest the dough in the refrigerator for ten minutes or until you need to use it. It will keep for a few days in the refrigerator or can be put in the freezer until you need it.

Note

Basically rolling the pastry will distribute the butter throughout it. The butter must be softened just enough to allow you to roll it in the dough. If taken out of the refrigerator for a short time before use it will be just right.


Article Source: Ezine Articles