Flaky Pastry

Name: Flaky Pastry
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Enough flaky pastry to cover 4 10-ounce souffles
Ingredients: 1 cup unbleached flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/3 cup vegetable shortening; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

By Marian Burros

Updated May 19, 2025

Total Time: 45 minutes
Rating: (0)
Comments: Read comments

This flaky pastry is made with shortening and just a bit of butter, so it’s forgiving and easy to work with. Use it to make a truffled turkey pot pie.

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Ingredients

Yield:Enough flaky pastry to cover 4 10-ounce souffles

1cup unbleached flour
½teaspoon salt
⅓cup vegetable shortening
1tablespoon unsalted butter
2 to 3tablespoons cold water

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Sift flour and salt together. Cut shortening and butter into ½-inch cubes, and toss with the flour until cubes are coated.
Step 2
With the hands, crumble butter and shortening into the flour. Continue until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
Step 3
Add water a little at a time, and mix until dough comes together into a ball. Knead on a lightly floured board to mix thoroughly.
Step 4
Chill for 30 minutes before rolling out.