Pate Brisee For Tomato Hand Pies Or Herb Leek Tart Recipes

PATE BRISEE (FRENCH SHORTCRUST)

Steps:

• Place flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times to mix. Add cubed butter; pulse until crumbly.
• Pour slow stream of ice water through feed tube while the processor is on low speed until dough holds together when pinched, making sure not to add too much.
• Divide dough evenly into 2 pieces. Form dough into discs on a lightly floured work surface. Wrap discs with wax paper or parchment paper before wrapping with plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until use.
• Roll dough out on a lightly floured work surface using a lightly floured rolling pin between 2 pieces of parchment paper to desired thickness when ready to use.
• Butter two 9-inch tart pans. Roll crusts 1 at a time onto the rolling pin and unroll over tart pans. Gently push dough into the prepared pans, molding to the sides. Trim edges with fingers or a knife. Fill and bake according to filling recipe instructions.

PATE BRISEE PASTRY DOUGH

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the flour and salt.
• Using a pastry cutter, large-tined fork, or a food processor on pulse setting, cut the chilled butter into the flour until it resembles coarse sand with a few pea-sized pieces of butter still visible.
• Sprinkle the water evenly over the mixture and toss gently a few times, just until it forms a ball that holds together.
• Separate the dough into two balls, flatten slightly into thick disk shapes, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for several hours before working with it. For fast preparation: Put the dough in the freezer for 40 to 50 minutes before working with it.

TOMATO HAND PIES

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll out pate brisee to 1/8 inch thick. Using a paring knife, cut out twelve 4 1/2-inch squares, and fit into cups of a standard muffin tin, leaving an overhang. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Divide tomato and onion slices between 2 rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle with oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast, switching positions of sheets halfway through, until tomatoes begin to shrivel and onion slices are golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool. Transfer to a bowl.
• Divide half the chopped oregano, olives, and feta among the dough-lined tins. Top with tomato-onion mixture. Sprinkle remaining oregano, olives, and feta on top. Fold corners of dough toward centers. Brush with egg wash.
• Reduce heat to 375. Bake pies until top crusts are golden brown and middles are bubbling, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Let cool completely in tin on a wire rack. Tuck oregano sprigs into hand pies if desired.

PATE BRISEE FOR TOMATO HAND PIES OR HERB-LEEK TART

Steps:

• Pulse flour and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and process until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream until dough just comes together (no longer than 30 seconds).
• If making tomato hand pies, divide dough in half, shape each into a square, and wrap in plastic. If making herb-leek tart, flatten dough into an oblong disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days).

PÂTE BRISÉE - CLASSIC FRENCH PIE AND TART PASTRY

Steps:

• Mix together the all-purpose flour, sugar and salt.
• Cut in 1/2 cup of cold unsalted butter with a pastry knife until you have pea-sized pieces.
• Then add 1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
• Work in the butter and vegetable shortening until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.
• Add 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon of ice water. Drizzle over the flour and fat mixture.
• The dough should look rough, not smooth (almost raggedy). CHEF TIP: Overworking pastry dough will make the dough tough and the flaky characteristic will be lost.
• Divide the dough in half, press each half into a round flat disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, preferably for several hours, or for up to 2 days before rolling.
• The dough can also be wrapped airtight and frozen for up to 6 months; thaw completely before rolling.

PâTE BRISéE TART CRUST

Steps:

• Whisk flour, salt, and sugar in medium bowl. Add butter and shortening; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 4 tablespoons cold water. Work mixture with fingertips until dough comes together in moist clumps, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Roll out dough on floured work surface to 10-inch round. Carefully transfer dough to 8-inch springform pan. Press dough onto bottom and about 1 1/2 inches up sides of pan, pressing to adhere to sides. Fold down and roll 1/2 inch of dough sides inward, forming double-thick edge at top of crust sides. Using dull edge of small knife, make small indentations at 1/2-inch intervals on double-thick edge. Chill 20 minutes.
• Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until sides of crust are set, about 18 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Pierce bottom of crust all over with fork. Continue to bake until bottom is set and pale golden, about 14 minutes longer. Remove from oven and cool in pan on rack.