Pastry recipe

I've been making my own pastry for years now, and over this time I think I've finally perfected my little recipe. So here it is, my super easy pastry recipe.

All you need to make this yummy buttery shortcrust pastry is,

250g Plain flour

120g Butter

Pinch of salt

Water 

So first thing you'll want to do is to sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Add a pinch of salt.

Cut the chilled butter into small chunks then add the butter to the bowl. 

You'll then rub the butter into the dry ingredients. You can do this by using your fingertips to quickly and lightly rub the flour and butter together until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Lift your fingers above the bowl while rubbing to help aerate the mixture.

At this point add in water a teaspoon at a time and mix with a table knife until it starts to come together into a ball, knead lightly to completely bring together.

Chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.

Roll the pastry out on a floured surface with a rolling pin that's been lightly floured.

In the picture above I made a pocket of pastry by rolling the pastry out and cutting it into rectangle I then piled the filling into one half, remembering to leave a 2cm gap around the edge so you can stick the two sides together. Brush the edges you want to stick together with milk.

If you want to stick any extras on remember to brush with milk first and then stick on.

Brush the whole thing with milk or egg yolk and bake at Gas mark 6/ 200C for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Alternatively you can roll out the pastry, turning as you do to try and create a rounded shape that measures 5cm bigger than the tin and mould into a pie dish. 

Line the pastry with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans, blind bake for 15 minutes on Gas mark 6/200C then carefully remove the paper and beans and cook the pastry for 5 more minutes. Cut the remainder away with a sharp knife to tidy the top. 

Then fill with whatever you choose.

The picture above had a chunky strawberry filling, but you can fill it with anything.

Sweet things like apple, blueberry, a mix of berries, festive mince meat. Chocolate, caramel. Or you could make savoury pasty with meat or vegetables it's really up to you.

Happy baking.