Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

short pastry

Recipe by
Denise Gregory
U.K

This recipe is around 50 years old, but it does produce a 'melt in the mouth' pastry if followed correctly. At the end of this recipe I have added adjustments needed to make 2 other pastries.

method Bake

Ingredients For short pastry

  • SHORT PASTRY
  • 8 oz
    plain or self-raising flour. (8 heaped tbsp)
  • 4 oz
    soft margarine
  • pinch
    salt
  • 2 Tbsp
    cold water

How To Make short pastry

  • 1
    Sieve the flour and salt together into a mixing bowl.
  • 2
    Cut the margarine into four and rub into the flour until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.
  • 3
    Add water and mix well until it clings together.
  • 4
    Using your finger tips, gather the mixture together to form a firm dough.
  • 5
    Lightly flour the rolling-pin and board or other surface you will be putting the pastry on. Roll the pastry out to the required thickness with light, quick, forward strokes.
  • 6
    Cut and use the pastry as required in the recipe used.
  • 7
    FOR EXTRA-SHORT PASTRY:
  • 8
    AT STAGE 2: Use 5 ounces soft margarine to 8 ounces flour with: 1 tablespoon water (brimming) OR 1 rounded dessertspoon castor sugar.
  • 9
    FOR BISCUIT CRUST:
  • 10
    AT STAGE 2: Use 5 ounces soft margarine to 8 ounces flour. AT STAGE 3: Mix with 1 dessertspoon water and 1 egg yolk, in which is dissolved 1 rounded dessertspoon castor sugar.
  • 11
    Note: when making any pastry you should follow these 4 basic rules: 1. Keep everything cool - the bowl, the rolling pin, the margarine, water, the mixed dough. And rinse your hands in cold water just before you start. 2. Keep to the amount of water given in the recipe you are using and measure all ingredients accurately. 3. Keep handling and rolling light. 4. Keep the oven temperature fairly hot or hot, according to recipe you use. Pastry needs quick cooking. Turn the oven on and set to the correct temperature 15 minutes before it is needed. If you follow these basic rules and add a bit of practice, your pastry will be a success every time.
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