Paul Hollywood's Shortcrust Pastry Recipe

Ingredients

Making the perfect shortcrust pastry requires a combination of the right ingredients, and in the case of Paul Hollywood’s shortcrust pastry, the ingredients are simple and straightforward: butter, plain flour, and a pinch of salt. For the butter, you'll need 225g of unsalted butter, and for the flour, you'll need 350g of plain flour. Finally, you'll need a pinch of salt, though you can always add more if you like your pastry to be slightly saltier.

Instructions

Now that you have all the ingredients, it's time to get started. Begin by sifting the flour and salt into a large bowl. Then, add the butter and use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour and salt until it resembles breadcrumbs. This will help the pastry to hold together when cooked. Once you have the desired consistency, you can begin to add some cold water. Start by adding a tablespoon at a time and mix it until the dough starts to come together. You don't want the dough to be too wet, so be careful not to add too much water. Once the dough has reached the desired consistency, knead it lightly and then wrap it in clingfilm and refrigerate for at least an hour before rolling it out and using it for your desired recipe.

Rolling Out

Once the pastry has been chilled for an hour, it's time to roll it out. Start by lightly flouring your work surface and then roll out the pastry until it is the desired thickness. If you are using the pastry for a tart or pie dish, you'll want to roll it out to be slightly larger than the dish so that it fits properly. Once the pastry is rolled out, gently lift it up and place it into the dish before trimming the edges and crimping them, if desired.

Baking

Now that the pastry is in the dish, it's time to bake it. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and then blind bake the pastry for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it is a light golden brown. Once it's ready, remove it from the oven and fill it with your desired filling before baking it again for the remaining time indicated in the recipe. Once the pastry is finished, remove it from the oven and let it cool before serving.

Nutrition

Paul Hollywood's shortcrust pastry is full of flavour and a great source of energy. It contains a good source of carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fibre, as well as a variety of vitamins and minerals. One serving of Paul Hollywood's shortcrust pastry provides around 220 calories, 10g of fat, 24g of carbohydrates, 4g of protein, and 3g of dietary fibre.