Delicate Shortcrust Pastry

Master the art of creating perfectly tender and buttery shortcrust pastry with this foolproof recipe for Delicate Shortcrust Pastry. Featuring simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, cold unsalted butter, fine sugar, and a touch of egg yolk, this recipe yields a pastry with an irresistibly crumbly texture that's ideal for pies, tarts, and quiches. The key lies in keeping the butter cold and handling the dough minimally to achieve a soft, flaky finish. With just 20 minutes of prep time and a relaxing chill in the fridge, this versatile shortcrust pastry recipe strikes the perfect balance of ease and elegance. Whether you’re crafting a sweet dessert tart or a savory quiche, this pastry provides the ultimate base for your culinary creations.

Nutriscore Rating: 53/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 250 grams All-purpose flour
• 125 grams Unsalted butter (cold and diced)
• 25 grams Fine sugar
• 1 pinch Salt
• 1 large Egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons Cold water

Directions

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, fine sugar, and a pinch of salt. Mix gently to evenly distribute the dry ingredients.

Step 2

Add the cold, diced unsalted butter to the bowl. Using your fingers, a pastry blender, or a food processor, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it forms a texture resembling coarse breadcrumbs.

Step 3

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and cold water.

Step 4

Gradually add the egg and water mixture to the flour and butter mixture. Use a fork or your hands to gently mix until the dough just comes together. Avoid overworking the dough to keep it tender.

Step 5

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead it into a smooth ball, then flatten into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours, to chill and relax the gluten.

Step 6

When ready to use, roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to your desired thickness, usually about 3mm. Line your pie or tart tin with the pastry, trimming off any excess.

Step 7

For recipes requiring pre-baked pastry, prick the base of the pastry with a fork, line it with parchment paper, and fill with baking beans. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes, then remove the beans and parchment, and bake for another 5 minutes until lightly golden.

Step 8

Use as a base for sweet or savory pies, quiches, or tarts.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(446.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1972.5

Total Fat 109.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 67.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 461.3mg	0%
Sodium 161.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 216.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 6.8g	0%
Total Sugars 26.1g
Protein 29.4g	0%

Vitamin D 80.7IU	0%
Calcium 84.2mg	0%
Iron 12.1mg	0%
Potassium 313.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 50.1%

Protein: 6.0%

Carbs: 43.9%