French Tart Pastry

Submitted by ratherbeswimmin

"Maida Heatter"

 

• Ready In: 45mins
• Ingredients: 6
• Yields: 1 tart pastry

ingredients

• 1 3⁄4 cups unsifted all-purpose flour (stir to aerate before measuring)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces unsalted butter, cold and firm, cut into small pieces (1 stick)
• 1 cold egg
• 1 tablespoon ice water

directions

1. Fit bowl of food processor with the metal blade; add in the flour, sugar, salt, and butter.
2. Process on/off for 10 seconds (ten 1 second pulses) until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
3. Add the egg and water to a small bowl; beat to mix.
4. Through the feed tube, add the egg/water mixture and continue to process briefly (about 20 seconds) only until the mixture barely (but not completely) holds together.
5. Turn mixture out onto a large unfloured board or smooth work surface; knead briefly (only a few seconds) until the mixture is smooth and holds together; press the mixture together to form a ball.
6. Smooth the sides and flour it lightly.
7. *Unless the kitchen is terribly hot, or unless you have handled the mixture too much (enough to melt the butter), it is not necessary to refrigerate this before using; if you must, refrigerate it for only about an hour or less; if it is refrigerated too long it will crack when you roll it out.
8. Roll out and fit into tart pan.

Reviews

[Bonnie G #2]

Thank you so much for posting this recipe, it turned out perfect - I've have so much trouble making any kind of pastry dough and this one was not only pretty, but easy and came out flaky and just what I've been looking for.