How to Make Pastry

Pastry is a versatile dough that can be used to make a variety of dishes, from pies and tarts to quiches and turnovers. It is made with flour, butter, and water, and can be either sweet or savory.

Here is a basic recipe for making shortcrust pastry:

Ingredients:

• 225g (8oz) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 115g (4oz) cold unsalted butter, diced
• 50g (2oz) cold lard, diced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 5-7 tablespoons cold water

Instructions:

1. Sift the flour, salt, and butter together into a large bowl.
2. Use your fingers to rub the butter and flour together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
3. Add the lard and mix until just combined.
4. Drizzle in the cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together.
5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly until smooth.
6. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
7. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to the desired thickness.
8. Use the dough to line a tart pan or pie dish.
9. Fill the pastry case with your desired filling and bake according to the recipe instructions.

Here are some tips for making pastry:

• Use cold ingredients. This will help to prevent the gluten from developing, which will give the pastry a tender texture.
• Don't overwork the dough. Overworking the dough will develop the gluten and make the pastry tough.
• Chill the dough before rolling it out. This will make it easier to work with and will help to prevent it from shrinking.
• Prick the bottom of the pastry case with a fork before baking. This will help to prevent the pastry from bubbling up.